USMNT defender Joe Scally reflected on the last two years while looking ahead to a big summer with his country.
Two and a half years since the United States men's national team star made his initial move to the Bundesliga from New York City FC, he is feeling at home in Germany. The 20-year-old recently signed a new contract with Borussia Monchengladbach that will keep him tied to the club through the 2026-27 season, so he can enjoy full security in his club position.
Scally is now a Bundesliga starter, playing over 60 times for his team. He's also become a USMNT regular and a World Cup veteran who now seems poised to make a real push for a starting spot on the road to 2026.
With the new contract signed, Scally took the time to reflect on adjusting to life in Germany, his role in paying it forward and future expectations with the USMNT.
"I was just a little kid," he said looking back at his move. "I'm still young, but I was nervous, not used to it, not used to the culture, but I've moved in. I'm part of the first team now and I feel much, much more comfortable. I'm part of the national team now and I've established myself there.
"I just feel very comfortable and more experienced overall with everything, with life, with soccer. I've definitely grown up these last two years."
GettyGrowing up at Gladbach with help from Reyna
It all seems so long ago now, but it really wasn't.
When Scally arrived in Germany as an 18-year-old, he arrived in a much different world. Covid protocols were very much still in effect and Scally, in a new country all alone, admittedly struggled to adjust.
"I think the biggest part where I grew up was when I first moved over," Scally said. "I was 18, it was during Covid, my family was not allowed to visit and I wasn't even in an apartment. I was in the hotel here at Gladbach and it was so bad. I was in a hotel room all day, walking down the stairs to training and just walking back up to my room. It was like soccer, soccer, soccer, 24/7.
"I think that was something that definitely helped me grow up and realize that there's so much more to life than just focusing on soccer 24/7 because it'll just blow your head up."
Life has gotten a bit easier since then. Scally is now more comfortable in the city and on his own, even if family can now visit freely.
He credits USMNT teammate Gio Reyna, one of his best friends from childhood, for helping to bridge the gap, and Scally is now eager to pay it forward with the next set of young Americans coming over.
"Gio, I'm sure you all know he's one of my best friends," Scally began, "and he's an hour and 45 min from me. When I came over it was Covid, so everything was closed. It was a really, really tough time for even him who had been there for probably two years when I came. He's definitely helped me a lot just with adapting to the culture, to the people, to the restaurant chains and stuff, like where to get food. He definitely helped me out a lot.
"Someone who I would say I try to help now is Paxten Aaronson, who over here. I'm really good friends with Brendan when we go to camps, and so I just try to help out whoever comes, just to make them feel like they're at home, because I know how tough it is when when you first move over."
AdvertisementGettyWorld Cup frustration
Going to the World Cup is every player's dream, but not every player can score the game-winning goal in the final. Scally understands that, but he also admits that he had hoped for more in his first World Cup experience.
The 20-year-old full back did not see the field in Qatar during the USMNT's four-game run. He was one of the four outfield players to not play, joined by Aaron Long, Cristian Roldan and Luca de la Torre.
Scally does admit that his lack of time bothered him, at least initially, but he's now looking ahead to having a bigger role on the road to 2026.
"Once the World Cup finished, not being able to play one min definitely affected me mentally, just because playing every single game in the Bundesliga then to not even get a minute, I didn't understand that," he said.
"But I definitely have that next World Cup circled on my calendar to be playing, because when you see the guys out there walking out to the national anthem, I'm sure there's no better feeling. To have it home in the U.S., with family and friends there, I think it'll be the the biggest World Cup yet, so I'm definitely excited for that."
Getty ImagesLooking ahead to the Nations League
Scally looks set to be part of the USMNT's Nations League squad, which will compete in the tournament's semi-finals against Mexico on June 15. A win in that game would book a date with Panama or Canada three days later as the U.S. look to defend their title from the inaugural tournament in 2021.
Heading into a summer that also includes the Gold Cup, the USMNT is preparing for change.
Matt Crocker has been appointed as sporting director, with the coaching search now officially underway. That hire will, ultimately, set the tone for 2026.
It will be a clean slate under the new coach and Scally, a World Cup veteran, will be looking to make the most of it. He didn't see the field in Qatar, serving as Sergino Dest's backup, but with Dest struggling to get anything going on the club level, there's a real case for Scally to be given a chance to start in the future.
Despite the relative uncertainty and the fact that several top players have struggled on the club level since Qatar, Scally says the mood is still good with the national team, especially as the players look forward to another chance at a possible trophy.
"This summer, it's definitely going to be interesting," he said. "We have a camp and we play Mexico on the 15th, and I think everyone, they don't bring that outside stuff with their clubs into the team. We're all just focused on one goal when we were together with the national team.
"It's been a tough season for a lot of American players, but we try to keep that limited because we're only together for like two weeks. Our main goal is to win the Nations League which, which we'll be going for in Vegas. And then after that, the players have about two months to figure out what they're gonna do."
Getty ImagesLeft or right?
One of Scally's biggest assets is his versatility, which has allowed him to be a regular for both club and country.
Comfortable on the left or the right, Scally has switched between the two based on need at Gladbach. With the national team, though, he's generally played on the left, given the lack of backup for Antonee Robinson in that position and the wealth of options on the right.
Scally does admit, though, that he prefers the right back spot, if given a choice.
"My preferred position is right back, but with the national team, I've played left back," he said. "I can play left wingback and I can play right wingback, so in any of these four positions, I'm very, very comfortable with.
"Of course, I've preferred on my right back, but I would definitely feel comfortable filling in in any of these spots."