England Squad Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says the English player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not pair them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"The English have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring Wales can face the talented opponents is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is England don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and France and others are similarly stacked. They have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there are 24 more to go! They've got over sixty players. I wish Wales to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in France and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," he added.
"I have a degree of insight because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I get a bit of an insight there of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be up against that - observe how we adjust because he will. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to get to such heights."
Welsh Team List
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
