England Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't pair them against the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible squad, like France," the coach said.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."
He says ensuring the Welsh team can face the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than a single lineup. They possess multiple and France and others have the same level. They have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back went out with injury the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England emerged as comfortable victors in a fixture before the previous England team reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup champion at the London club who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding coach - his record is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I have a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be facing that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."
Wales Team Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
