England Team Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"England have a incredible squad, similar to the French," the coach remarked.
"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have two, three, four and France and others are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty footballers. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup champion at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his record speak for themselves," he added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a glimpse there of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be up against that - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
