England Team Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
The Wales head coach says England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet England in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous squad, like the French," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy says making sure Wales can face the talented opponents is a "key motivation".
Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They have multiple and France and others have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"A defender went out with injury the recently and there's only two dozen others to go! They have over sixty footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England emerged as easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at the London club who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding coach - his achievements is proven," he added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be up against that - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to get to that level."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
