England Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says England's squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad face their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"The English have a ridiculous team, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy explains ensuring the Welsh team can compete with the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "We don't go off values, but the reality is they have more than one team. They possess multiple and the French and other nations have the same level. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"A defender was ruled out with injury the recently and there's only two dozen others to go! They have 60-odd players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an incredible coach - his achievements is proven," he noted.
"I have some sort of insight because the club he left I know individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I'd love to reach that level."
Welsh Squad Selection
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
