England Team Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not match them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.
England manager Tuchel has left the such as Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible squad, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is £170m. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy explains ensuring Wales can face the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is England have more than one team. They possess 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 recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They have over sixty footballers. I wish us to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has won league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his achievements is proven," he added.
"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Squad List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
