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

• Published 60 minutes ago

Friendly match: Wales vs England

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

Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't match them with the Welsh team.

Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.

National team coach Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

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

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

He explains ensuring Wales can face the talented opponents is a "key motivation".

The Wales head coach added: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and others have the same level. England have many top talents and that's a fact."

"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped like them."

These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.

Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has won league championships in France and his home country.

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

"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his record is proven," Bellamy added.

"I possess a degree of insight because the team he departed I know individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse there of how he works and it's remarkable. "

"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I aspire to get to such heights."

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

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

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

Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).