Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Craig Bellamy

• Published 60 minutes ago

Friendly match: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST

The Wales head coach states England's squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers would not match them against the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.

National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.

"England have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," the coach remarked.

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

He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".

The Wales head coach added: "Our team don't go off values, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They have multiple and France and other nations have the same level. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."

"A defender was ruled out injured the other day and there are two dozen others to go! They have 60-odd players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped similarly."

These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when England ran out easy 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.

The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.

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

"He's an incredible coach - his achievements is proven," he added.

"I have some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse from that of his methods and it's remarkable. "

"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing that - see how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to get to that level."

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

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

Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).

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