Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says the English player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"The English have a ridiculous squad, like France," the coach said.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy explains making sure the Welsh team can compete with the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than one team. They have two, three, four and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. They have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."
"A defender was ruled out injured the other day and there are 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd players. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out easy 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"He's an incredible coach - his record is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Team List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
