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

• Published 1 hour ago

Friendly match: Wales vs England

Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST

The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them with the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad meet England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.

"The English have a incredible team, like the French," the coach said.

"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."

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

Bellamy added: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They possess two, three, four and France and others have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's a fact."

"One right-back was ruled out with injury the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I wish us to be stacked like them."

The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England ran out comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.

The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at the London club who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.

The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his record speak for themselves," he noted.

"I possess a degree of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from that. I aspire to get to such heights."

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

Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - on loan from Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).

Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).