England Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.

England manager Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.

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

"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."

He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".

Bellamy continued: "We don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is England have more than a single lineup. They possess multiple and the French and other nations have the same level. England have loads of great players and that's a fact."

"A defender went out injured the other day and there are two dozen others to go! They have over sixty footballers. I wish Wales to be well-equipped like them."

The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England emerged as comfortable victors in a group match before the previous England team made it to the last eight.

Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has won league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.

Bellamy was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.

"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his achievements is proven," he noted.

"I possess a degree of insight because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."

Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).

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

Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).

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