England Team Depth Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach states England's squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"England have a incredible squad, like France," the coach said.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a fight promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says ensuring the Welsh team can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "We do not rely on values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many top talents and that's a fact."
"A defender went out injured the other day and there are two dozen others to go! They have over sixty footballers. I wish us to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before the previous England team made it to the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has won league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his achievements speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I possess a degree of insight because the club he left I know people who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing that - see how we adjust because he will. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."
Wales Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
