Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 60 minutes ago

International friendly: England v Wales

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

Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not pair them against his Wales side.

Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.

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

"England have a incredible squad, similar to the French," the coach said.

"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."

He says ensuring the Welsh team can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".

Bellamy continued: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is they have more than a single lineup. They have two, three, four and France and other nations have the same level. England have many top talents and that's the honest truth."

"A defender was ruled out injured the recently and there are 24 more to go! They've got over sixty players. I wish Wales to be stacked 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 the previous England team made it to the quarter-finals.

Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has won league championships in France and his home country.

The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.

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

"I possess a degree of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "

"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).

Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).

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

Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).