England Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't match them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible squad, like France," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He says making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
Bellamy continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is England have more than a single lineup. They possess two, three, four 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 are 24 more to go! They have over sixty players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England ran out comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"He's an incredible manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the team he departed I know people who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
