Three Lions Team Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy

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Friendly match: Wales vs England

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

Craig Bellamy says England's squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not match them with the Welsh team.

Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.

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

"England have a ridiculous team, similar to France," Bellamy said.

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

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

The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and other nations have the same level. They have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."

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

These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English ran out comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.

The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club champion at the London club 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 Bayern Munich.

"He's an incredible manager - his achievements is proven," Bellamy added.

"I have some sort of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "

"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be up against that - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to such heights."

Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).

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

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).

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