Three Lions Team Depth Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says England's player pool is so impressive that matchmakers would not pair them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"The English have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," Bellamy said.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. Were you a fight 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".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is England have more than a single lineup. They possess multiple and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many great players and that's a fact."
"A defender went out with injury the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They have over sixty players. I wish Wales to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at the London club who has won league championships in France and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding manager - his record is proven," Bellamy added.
"I have a degree of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing that - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to reach such heights."
Welsh Squad Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).