England Team Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
The Wales head coach states England's squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers would not match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
England manager Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," Bellamy said.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is £170m. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring Wales can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach continued: "We do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and other nations have the same level. They have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd players. I wish Wales to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England ran out easy victors in a group match before the previous England team made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his achievements speak for themselves," he noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Team Selection
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).