England Team Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers would not match them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, like France," the coach said.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure the Welsh team can face the talented opponents is a "key motivation".
Bellamy added: "We don't go off values, but the reality is they don't just have a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and other nations are similarly stacked. England have many top talents and that's the honest truth."
"A defender was ruled out injured the recently and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd players. I'd love us to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English emerged as easy victors in a group match 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 Chelsea who has won league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing that - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Team Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
