England Team Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't match them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
National team coach Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a ridiculous squad, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says ensuring the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is they don't just have a single lineup. They have two, three, four and France and others have the same level. England have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got 60-odd players. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before the previous England team made it to the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible manager - his achievements is proven," he noted.
"I have some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be facing that - see how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."
Welsh Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
