England Team Strength Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
National team coach Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous squad, like France," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is England don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and France and others are similarly stacked. They have loads of great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out injured the other day and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They've got 60-odd players. I wish Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England emerged as comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before the previous England team made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in France and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who replaced him at the German giants.
"He's an incredible coach - his achievements is proven," he added.
"I have a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have gone in there. I gain a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing that - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I aspire to get to that level."
Welsh Team List
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
