Three Lions Squad Depth Called 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers would not pair them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
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 World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible squad, like the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure Wales can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "We do not rely on market prices, but the reality is England don't just have a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and others have the same level. England have loads of great players and that's a fact."
"A defender went out injured the recently and there are two dozen others to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love us to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an outstanding manager - his record is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know people who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be up against that - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Team List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
