Joe Scally trains with the USMNT Tuesday. (Amanda Rossmann-USA TODAY NETWORK)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
CINCINNATI – He hasn’t played a game yet with the U.S. men’s national team, but Joe Scally already has been shown respect from his teammates.
Midfielder Tyler Adams told the 18-year-old defender that “you deserve to be here.”
The Lake Grove, N.Y. native has trained with the squad this week in preparation for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Mexico at TQL Stadium.
Adams, 22-years-old in age but his maturity well beyond his years and who has captained the team, said the Borussia Moenchengladbach fullback deserved to be called in. Adams plays for the rival RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
“I’ve talked to Joe a couple times,” Adams said Thursday. Obviously, coming from New York, I think he played against my younger brother when I was growing up. That just goes to show how young the group is that we have here.
“When I first talked to him, I told him [to] feel comfortable around the guys. ‘You deserve to be here. What you’re doing in the Bundesliga speaks for itself. Now you’ve kind of established yourself as the main starter there.’
“When he comes into this camp, he can feel well respected. Everyone respects him. He’s quality. He has shown well in all the training, working really hard. So it’d be interesting when his opportunity comes how he does. We’re going to support him every step of the way.”
Scally, who made his professional debut with New York City FC in 2018, has trained up to the expectations of head coach Gregg Berhalter as well.
Berhalter said Scally was “very mature for his age. Very mature player and how he plays for his age.”
“It’s been really nice to see,” he added. “He’s been competing. Any player that we bring into camp. “We believe has the potential to play, so I can envision Joan playing one of these two games.
The USMNT will visit Jamaica in another qualifier on Tuesday.