Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

Friendly match: England v Wales

Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them with the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

"England have a ridiculous team, similar to France," the coach said.

"They have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."

He explains ensuring the Welsh team can face the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".

Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They possess multiple and the French and others have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."

"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to choose from! They have over sixty players. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."

These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English 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 Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in France and his home country.

Bellamy was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.

"He's an incredible coach - his record speak for themselves," he added.

"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's remarkable. "

"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."

Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).

Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).

Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).