England Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

Friendly match: Wales vs England

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST

Craig Bellamy says England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not match them with the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.

England manager Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.

"The English have a incredible team, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.

"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is £170m. Were you a fight promoter, you would not match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."

Bellamy explains making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented opponents is a "key motivation".

Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They have multiple and the French and other nations have the same level. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."

"One right-back went out with injury the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They have 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped 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 reached the last eight.

Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.

Bellamy was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced him at the German giants.

"He's an incredible coach - his achievements is proven," he noted.

"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's remarkable. "

"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."

Keepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).

Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).

Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).