Three Lions Team Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is so impressive that matchmakers would not pair them with his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous squad, similar to the French," the coach said.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy explains making sure Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "We don't go off values, but the reality is they have more than one team. 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 was ruled out with injury the other day and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a group match before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in France and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Team List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
