England Squad Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: Wales vs England

Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST

Craig Bellamy says England's squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them against his Wales side.

Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.

National team coach Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.

"The English have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," the coach remarked.

"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."

Bellamy says ensuring the Welsh team can face the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".

The Wales head coach continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality is England have more than a single lineup. They possess multiple and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many great players and that's a fact."

"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked similarly."

These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English emerged as comfortable victors in a group match before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.

The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.

The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.

"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his record is proven," Bellamy added.

"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach that level."

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).

Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).

Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).

Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).