England Squad Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Boss Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST

Craig Bellamy says England's player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not match them with his Wales side.

Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude 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 team, like France," the coach said.

"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. It wouldn't be allowed."

Bellamy says making sure Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".

Bellamy continued: "We don't go off values, but the reality is England don't just have a single lineup. They possess multiple and France and others have the same level. They have many great players and that's the honest truth."

"A defender went out injured the other day and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I'd love us to be stacked like them."

These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.

Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.

Bellamy was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

"Tuchel's an outstanding manager - his record is proven," Bellamy added.

"I have a degree of insight because the club he left I know individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of how he works and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from that. I'd love to get to such heights."

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

Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).

Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).