England Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says the English player pool is remarkable that matchmakers would not match them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous squad, like the French," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring Wales can compete with the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than a single lineup. They have multiple and France and others have the same level. England have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"A defender was ruled out with injury the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They have over sixty footballers. I wish us to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England ran out easy victors in a fixture before the previous England team made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"He's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy added.
"I have a degree of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to get to that level."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
