Three Lions Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not match them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," the coach said.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring Wales can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on market prices, but the reality is they don't just have one team. They possess multiple and France and others have the same level. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They've got over sixty footballers. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England emerged as comfortable victors 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 the London club who has won domestic titles in France and his native Germany.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible coach - his record is proven," he noted.
"I possess a degree of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from that. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Team Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
