Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says England's player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has left the such as Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous team, like the French," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains ensuring the Welsh team can face the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is England have more than one team. They possess multiple and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"A defender was ruled out with injury the other day and there are two dozen others to choose from! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England emerged as easy 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 home country.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible coach - his achievements is proven," Bellamy added.
"I have a degree of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to get to that level."
Wales Team Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
