England Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: Wales vs England

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

Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers would not match them with his Wales side.

The Welsh squad meet England in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.

"The English have a incredible team, like France," the coach remarked.

"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."

He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".

Bellamy continued: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have multiple and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many great players and that's the honest truth."

"A defender went out injured the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."

The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English emerged as comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.

Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has won league championships in France and his home country.

Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.

"He's an incredible coach - his achievements speak for themselves," Bellamy added.

"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "

"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."

Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (Everton).

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

Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).

Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).