England Team Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers would not match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has omitted the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"The English have a incredible team, like France," Bellamy said.
"They have a market valuation of ÂŁ1.4bn, Wales' is ÂŁ170m. If you were a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "We do not rely on values, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have two, three, four and France and others are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there are two dozen others to go! They have over sixty footballers. I wish Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before the previous England team reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has won domestic titles in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding manager - his achievements is proven," he noted.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to get to such heights."
Welsh Team Selection
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
