Three Lions Team Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says England's player pool is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with his Wales side.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible squad, like the French," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and others have the same level. England have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back went out with injury the recently and there are two dozen others to choose from! They've got 60-odd players. I'd love us to be stacked similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and world club champion at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding coach - his achievements is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Welsh Squad List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - on loan from Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
