England Squad Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Boss Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: England v Wales

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

The Wales head coach states the English player pool is remarkable that matchmakers would not pair them against the Welsh team.

Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.

"The English have a ridiculous squad, like the French," Bellamy said.

"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."

Bellamy explains making sure Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".

Bellamy added: "We do not rely on values, but the reality is they don't just have one team. They possess multiple and the French and other nations have the same level. England have many top talents and that's a fact."

"One right-back was ruled out injured the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got 60-odd players. I wish us to be well-equipped similarly."

The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.

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

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

"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy added.

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

"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach such heights."

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

Defenders: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).

Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).