Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach states the English player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them with his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous squad, similar to France," the coach remarked.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a fight promoter, you would not put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy says ensuring Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach added: "We do not rely on values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They have two, three, four and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty players. I wish us to be stacked similarly."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England ran out comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side 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 native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding manager - his achievements is proven," he added.
"I possess a degree of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing that - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I aspire to get to such heights."
Welsh Team Selection
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
