Three Lions Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy states England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible team, like the French," Bellamy said.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy says making sure the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They have multiple and France and other nations have the same level. England have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got 60-odd footballers. I wish Wales to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a group match before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club champion at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in France and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of insight because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach such heights."
Wales Team Selection
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
