It wouldn't be allowed' - Craig Bellamy says a boxing promoter would not put Wales up against England as he hails Thomas Tuchel's 'ridiculous squad'

Wales travel to London for a daunting friendly against England, who boast one of the most valuable squads in world football. Bellamy’s team, preparing for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next week, are using the fixture as a key learning experience. England, managed by Tuchel, remain heavy favourites and Bellamy understands the lack of parity between his side and the Three Lions.

“They have a ridiculous squad,” Bellamy told reporters. “They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn’t put us together – it wouldn’t be allowed.

“That’s rough – but are our players undervalued or their players overvalued? There’s a context to that as well. We don’t go off values, but the simple fact is they don’t just have one team. They have two, three, four, and France, and others have the same.

“They have a player who cost £100m in midfield [Declan Rice], players worth £60m, £80m. It’s really top and that’s why you want to be up against these boys. I’m not saying this is going to be the case but when I was at Burnley, it was the best. You never learn more than when you get your ass kicked.

“We just can’t compete with these teams if we are not full gas. For us, it’s like, great, let’s try to be full gas all the time so that we only live with full gas.”

Bellamy handpicked England as opponents to test Wales against elite opposition and gauge his squad’s progress. The Dragons last faced the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup, where they fell to a 3-0 defeat. The clash has always favoured the Three Lions in the 21st century, as England have taken seven wins from seven against Wales.

After their Wembley test, Wales return to Cardiff to host Belgium in a vital World Cup qualifier next Monday. Bellamy hopes facing England will sharpen his squad’s competitiveness and intensity. For England, the friendly offers another chance for Tuchel to fine-tune his options ahead of the next round of international fixtures.