Who is Joe Scally? USMNT World Cup roster's newest star

Stuart Telford

10 Nov 2022 13:38 GMT
4 min read

Joe Scally playing for Borussia Monchengladbach. — © ProShots

Borussia Monchengladbach full-back Joe Scally is the youngest and least-capped player on the USMNT's World Cup roster. He grew up supporting Barcelona and idolising Dani Alves, but what else is there to know?

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Scally left New York City FC for Gladbach in a €1.8 million deal in January 2021 and hiut the ground running for his new club, quickly displacing Austria international Stefan Lainer as the Foals' first-choice right-back.

Now just one game away from his 50th senior appearance for Gladbach at the tender age of 19, Scally earned his first senior USMNT cap in June - a 3-0 friendly win over Morocco - but it was still something of a surprise that he made the cut for Qatar.

He has the talent to prove good for it, though.

READ: What is USMNT World Cup roster?

What position does Scally play in?

Scally is primarily a right-back who group up supporting Barca and trying to copy Alves' game. "My favourite team was Barcelona, and my idol was Dani Alves," he has said previously. "He was my favourite right-back."

Despite being right-footed, Scally can also play on the left, though, and his is equally comfortable playing in a back four as he is starting as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 system.

Gio Reyna and Joe Scally catching up before Dortmund play Gladbach in the Bundesliga 🤝🇺🇸

(via @borussia)pic.twitter.com/gP7CFyYf06
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 20, 2022

How good is Scally?

Scally is an athletically gifted player who never seems to run out of energy, averaging 59 intensive runs per game for Gladbach in the Bundesliga this season, while winning eight tackles per 90 minutes played.

The fact that he has made a USA squad that also includes AC Milan's on loan Sergino Dest and long-time Newcastle stalwart DeAndre Yedlin, now of Inter Miami, is further testament to his ability.

READ: ‘Reyna could play at Real Madrid’ – Dortmund star tipped for the top

What clubs are interested in Scally?

Scally is childhood friends with fellow rising USMNT star Gio Reyna, and it would be little surprise if Borussia Dortmund were to make a move for Scally at a later date. He has also previously spoken of his dream to play in the Premier League. A good World Cup could hasten his Gladbach exit, but for now he seems settled.