England Squad Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
The Wales head coach says England's squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad face England in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"The English have a incredible team, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy explains ensuring Wales can face the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "We don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They have two, three, four and the French and others have the same level. They have loads of great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to go! They have over sixty players. I wish Wales to be stacked similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding coach - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing that - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I aspire to reach such heights."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
