Bellamy: England Squad Depth ‘Ridiculous’ Ahead of Wembley Clash

Bellamy: England Squad Depth Is “Ridiculous”

International Friendly Preview: England vs Wales

📍 Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

📅 Date: Thursday, 9 October

🕖 Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Bellamy Praises England’s “Unreal” Depth

Wales head coach Craig Bellamy admits his side face an uphill battle in Thursday night’s friendly against England, describing the Three Lions’ squad depth as “ridiculous”.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has opted to rest key stars like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish, yet Bellamy insists the quality available remains world-class.

“If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn’t pair us together. It wouldn’t be allowed,” Bellamy quipped.

“They’ve got 60-odd players. I’d love us to be stacked like them.”

England’s estimated £1.4 billion squad value dwarfs Wales’ £170 million, but Bellamy says his players are motivated by the challenge.

Tactical Learning Curve for Bellamy

Thursday’s fixture at Wembley offers Bellamy a chance to test his tactical mettle against Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea and PSG boss who succeeded Gareth Southgate.

“Tuchel’s record is incredible. His tactical detail is top level,” Bellamy said.

“I want to go up against that – see how I adapt because I know he will.”

Bellamy, who previously served as Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley, sees this clash as a valuable experience ahead of Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday, 14 October.

Wales Squad Breakdown

Notable inclusions:

• Kieffer Moore (Wrexham) returns as a focal point in attack.

• Brennan Johnson (Tottenham) offers pace and creativity.

• Neco Williams (Forest) and Ben Davies (Spurs) bring top-flight experience.

Emerging talents such as Joel and Rubin Colwill (Cardiff) and Lewis Koumas (on loan from Liverpool) showcase the new generation.

Goalkeeper options are led by Leeds’ Karl Darlow and Everton’s Tom King, while midfield lynchpins Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson remain central to Bellamy’s plans.

What to Expect

Despite the odds, Wales aim to prove competitive, leaning on their unity, pressing intensity, and transitions. England, meanwhile, will likely rotate heavily but still field a high-quality XI.

With Tuchel experimenting and Bellamy testing his tactical adaptability, fans can expect a dynamic, learning-focused encounter.