Three Lions Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: Wales vs England

Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST

Craig Bellamy says England's squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them with his Wales side.

The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.

England manager Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

"The English have a ridiculous squad, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.

"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."

He explains ensuring Wales can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".

Bellamy continued: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They have multiple and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. They have loads of top talents and that's a fact."

"A defender was ruled out with injury the other day and there are 24 more to choose from! They have over sixty players. I'd love us 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 Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.

Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club champion at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in France and his native Germany.

The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.

"He's an incredible manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.

"I possess a degree of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I get a glimpse from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be up against that - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).

Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).

Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).