Three Lions Squad Depth Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy

• Published 60 minutes ago

International friendly: England v Wales

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

The Wales head coach states the English player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not match them against the Welsh team.

Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next Monday.

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

"The English have a incredible team, similar to the French," Bellamy said.

"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is £170m. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."

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

The Wales head coach added: "We do not rely on values, but the simple fact is they don't just have one team. They have multiple and the French and others have the same level. England have many top talents and that's the honest truth."

"One right-back was ruled out injured the recently and there's only two dozen others to go! They've got over sixty players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."

The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.

Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his home country.

Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.

"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a bit of an insight there of how he works and it's remarkable. "

"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to get to such heights."

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

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

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).

Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).