Three Lions Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy

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Friendly match: Wales vs England

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

Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't match them with the Welsh team.

The Welsh squad face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.

England manager Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.

"England have a ridiculous squad, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.

"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."

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

Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality 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 a fact."

"One right-back was ruled out with injury the other day and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty footballers. I'd love us to be stacked like them."

The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before the previous England team reached the last eight.

Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.

The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.

"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his achievements is proven," he added.

"I have some sort of understanding because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I get a bit of an insight from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "

"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be up against that - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to such heights."

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

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

Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).

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