Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy

• Published 1 hour ago

International friendly: England v Wales

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

Craig Bellamy says the English player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not pair them with the Welsh team.

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

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.

"England have a incredible team, like France," the coach remarked.

"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is £170m. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."

Bellamy explains making sure the Welsh team can face the talented opponents is a "key motivation".

The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have multiple 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 injured the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."

The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England emerged as easy victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.

The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his home country.

The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.

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

"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know people who have gone in there. I get a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's very impressive. "

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

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

Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).

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

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