Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy states England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not pair them against his Wales side.
The Welsh squad face England in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible team, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy says making sure Wales can face the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have two, three, four and France and other nations have the same level. England have many top talents and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there are two dozen others to choose from! They have over sixty players. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of insight because the club he left I know people who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to reach such heights."
Welsh Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
