England Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is remarkable that matchmakers would not pair them against his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible team, like France," the coach remarked.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is England have more than one team. They possess multiple and the French and others are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the recently and there are two dozen others to choose from! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love us to be well-equipped similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England ran out comfortable victors in a group match before the previous England team made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding manager - his achievements speak for themselves," Bellamy added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to get to such heights."
Wales Squad Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
