Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #647: Joe Scally joins the pod

Episode Date: November 17, 2025

Sanjay sits down with Joe at the team hotel in Tampa on Monday afternoon, to discuss his nearly 10,000 Bundesliga minutes of experience, how things have changed under Poch, who from the team he would trust the least to run the family business in Lake Grove, and much more. It's a fast but substantive interview. Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the scuff podcast when we talk about U.S. soccer. Welcome to the scuffed podcast. Sanjay here, and I'm joined by Barisha Munchin-Gladvak and U.S.S. Men's National Team Defender, Joe Scali. Joe, thanks for coming on. Oh, thanks for having me. So you're only 22, and you're closing in on 10,000 Moondos League of Career Minutes. That's a massive achievement. How'd you do it? Yeah, I mean, it's crazy to hear.

I never knew that. But yeah, it's definitely a massive achievement. I think it's consistency. It's consistency kind of in everything I do. I mean, from work on the field to work off the field, I do so much to keep my body right, to keep my mental state right, to perform well on the field. So obviously the numbers don't lie when you kind of are consistently playing,

playing good. Almost every game, it doesn't, I mean, it adds up. That off-the-field stuff, were you always someone who took that super seriously? Or did you have to learn when you were in Germany? Did you have to, like, adjust quickly to? I think I definitely kind of took a serious when I had a hip surgery. I think when I was 15, I think around then. That's kind of when I started taking more serious

and understanding from older guys on Globock or at NYCFC that you can't just kind of step onto the field your whole life and then be able to train. You got to do some work in the gym and kind of get your body right. Also, food-wise, that was a massive thing for me. You were eating junk before? Yeah, a little bit. I was living at home, so kind of.

whatever my mom's cooked. It's not like she's going to, you know, I also had a brother and sister who, let's say, didn't really like salmon or some kind of healthierish food, which, you know, I wasn't going to make them change that. So that's why. So Pach has spoken a lot about changing the culture of this squad ever since he took over. Do you notice a difference between this camp than the last time you were in? Yeah, I mean, definitely the intensity is there. You know, everyone's kind of playing like it's life or death, which we need. I think we definitely showed that against Paraguay in the whole week leading up to the game.

very intense, very focused kind of trainings, and also in the game like everyone saw, we played such an unbelievable game and really, you know, destroyed Paraguay. So I think that was very good from us. Not everything is clear from the outside, but it's obvious for reporters and fans that something happened in March that Pach wasn't thrilled about with the team. What do you think that was? What do you think he saw and he realized, I need to shake things up? Yeah, I mean, I think we had two, you know, very bad results.

We lost to Panama and Canada, who I guess, you know, our, our rivals to us, of course, alongside Mexico. I think that was definitely a turning point, you know, that you can't just walk into a camp and expect to play or expect to be there, that you kind of need to fight in every training and every minute that you play to be there. And I think that was the main focal point after that. Do you think beyond the results, was there maybe like more complacency with the team or things off the field that like...

Yeah, I mean, well, it's tough to say, you know, I think, you know, we had a group of guys who were kind of in every camp for the last five. years, you know, let's say, and I think switching that up definitely helped the group just because, you know, when you're in camp, you know, it's, you have to give everything for, for whatever it is, you know, but the last, let's say, a couple years, it was more, you knew you were going to be in, you knew who was going to be playing, so I think that definitely changed it up, and I think it's good for the team. You said on a recent Zoom, correct me from wrong, that you guys spoke before this camp.

Did you reach out to him? Did he reach out to you? Was it, like, the staff? Yeah, it was a mutual reach out to each other and just found the time to connect. So this is your first call up since March. What do you think you have to do in this camp? What was your mindset coming into this camp to ensure that, you know, I'm not going to be drovable moving forward? Yeah, like I said, kind of just coming in, not expecting to be at every camp like I was before.

Definitely didn't come in, you know, complacent or anything like that. Brought very, very good energy, you know, started the game against Paraguay. You know, had a good game. We had one of, I think, our best results under him or best games under him, which he was very pleased about. So I think, yeah, coming in and do that, it was very positive. In terms of your role, he said before the game that they had thought of

what they thought was the perfect role for you. What did you think about that, you know, right back and right centerback building? I mean, you've done that before, right? But did you feel any different now? What do you think about that role? Yeah, I've done it before. I did it last year a couple times. This year not so much. I kind of played it in the right wingback position. So was my first game kind of playing that right centerback role this year, even with Globbach or any national team stuff. I haven't done it. So it was definitely, you know, not new to me, but of course, not like I play every single game. You know, it was my first game this year

you're playing in that right center back role. So it felt super comfortable, I think, on the ball, we had so many great build-up plays and things like that. So, again, very positive. Yeah, you're a very versatile player. He noted that, too, the other day. And a lot of players get asked, as I wanted to ask you, like, do you value that versatility?

And do you like being moved around and, you know, interpreting the game from different spots? Or do you kind of wish you'd settle into a position for club and your country? I mean, yeah, club, I'm playing every game. So for me, it's no problem. problem. I think the versatility helps with that. Also alongside a national team, you don't get to bring in 50 guys. You know, it's limited to 23 or 26.

So being able to play multiple positions is definitely a positive. Yeah, with the national team so far, I've played right back, right center back, left back, left center back against Panama in the three. So it's definitely helpful. I think, you know, the staff sees that. So it's something that I can, yeah, be proud of. For the World Cup, Potcher is going to be weighing a lot of things when deciding his squad. and who plays. As someone who went to a World Cup,

and I know you didn't really get in in Qatar, but you played in the Cop America. You started a Cop America. How valuable do you think that big tournament experience is? How much of an edge does it give a player like you going into potentially next summer? Yeah, I mean, I was the youngest player at the last World Cup for the national team.

Yeah, it didn't play, but was still there, so you're still part of the team. You know, you're still doing the same thing that kind of everyone else is doing. So to be able to now grow another, you know, three and a half years as a player, play every minute or every game in Copa America, yeah, the pressure I definitely understand it now. I understand it much better.

I'm able to deal with different things where maybe if it's first time, it's not as easy, you know, because you have outside voices, you know, expectations within the team that can kind of all get to you. But I think, yeah, even at 22 a.m. now, I kind of understand it. Like you said, I almost have 10,000 career minutes in the club level. So it's something now that I understand. I'm able to kind of consume and just let it go. Are you confident speaking German now? Yeah, I can.

People used to joke about your German. I understand pretty much everything. Speaking is still a little bit difficult, but for the most part I can do both. Maybe after a couple sentences, that's where I kind of fade out with the speaking part, but understanding it, I understand it. It's progress.

Yeah, it's progress. You and Gio are obviously reunited at the club level and if you're growing up together in New York, and Gio said you're pretty much neighbors now, and you see each other like seven to eight hours a day what's that like yeah we drive the training every day we together we come home every day together so it's it's pretty much from when we wake up to when we go to sleep we spend time together it's very nice uh you get sick of him you guys fight like no it's been it's been good i swear it's like a little outlet for us now you know from always being

with uh with our german teammates and stuff so it's nice to have to have each other um how would you say he's doing there yeah good i mean he just came back from injury so still uh you know, waiting to get the starts that we need from him and to help us as a team. I think he will be very, very positive for the team. So, yeah, super excited. I think it's been good. Yeah, you mentioned the driving. The other day he said he's your driver.

He also said you have a car, but not a license. Is that true? Can you elaborate? The first six months you move to Germany, you can drive with your American license. Okay. After that, you need to change to a German license, but different states have different rules. So, say, for example, you have a Connecticut license. it'll directly transfer over to a German one.

But because my license is New York, I need to go through the whole course, and it takes like two months, and there's just no time to go to the driving school to do this. That's my problem. Okay, that's like a logistical explanation. The way he said it the other day, I thought something like happened. No, no, no, no, no. I wasn't driving too fast or nothing like that.

Which teammate here for the national team, would you trust to run the bar in Lake Grove if your family is on vacation? Tim Ream? Tim Ream. Oh, this most experienced? I can't argue it, the responsible guy right come. Who would you trust the least? Brendan, I think he's most childish,

and I think he would have no idea what to do. There was a clip of you sounding pretty ticked off after the loss of Frankfurt where you guys conceded a bunch of goals. And obviously any player, especially a defender in that situation, will be pissed off. But it seemed like in that moment when you're giving that interview, you seem like a much more mature veteran and experienced guy.

Do you see yourself as a veteran now for clubbing country? Yeah, that's a... I remember because they were talking about the locker room after that game. Yeah, definitely. I mean, at my club, I've been there one of the longest guys, I think, maybe top three longest guys at Glabuck or top five for sure. So I definitely see myself as a leader, especially knowing the language, like we talked about before. It's a massive deal to them to the fans and to everyone. And with the national team coming back in, I definitely felt more of a leader role of this camp and kind of trying to bring my confidence from club. level into the team and I think it kind of helped the group and show everyone the confidence

that we can all have and though we played again like against paraguay I think that leadership kind of within all of us was brought out and shown so you're a vocal guy now would you say uh I want to say the most vocal I would say yeah in the locker room yes I like to make jokes and kind of have a fun time I think on the field definitely more and more I think I show more with my actions with different things whether it's you know hitting an opponent or something like that these little kind of things I you probably would have solved with Amarone every time we kind of pass a push a little bit. So these kind of actions gives the team energy. You guys have two ones in a row now for club.

And you're suddenly like middle of the table. Things can change quick, right? Like what helped jumpstart things? I know there's a managerial change, but what do you think? Like, was it that or was it other stuff? I think we had like a tough couple games in the beginning. Like we had definitely difficult opponents. And then when you change coach and you kind of go through a whole preseason

and then change all your processes. I think it's difficult. So I think now we've kind of adapted to the new coach, kind of got through, let's say, a mini, mid-season, pre-season kind of thing. And I think, yeah, now we're on, I mean, three wins in a row if you count the cup, you know, we're on a good way. When you win two games in a row in the Bundesliga, you jump right off the table.

So I think that's important. I think we have another game when we get back against Heidenheim, which, you know, it was going to be a tough game, but definitely one that we need to win. He's still the interim, right? He still is the interim, right? So what's the mindset of the squad? What's the mentality like?

What's the environment like with an interim coach? Yeah, it's a good coach. I mean, you know, the mentality is always, you know, you just want to know who, you know, is he the coach or what's happening as players when it's being dragged on for so long. But I think he will be the coach. I think he's very, very positive. He's a young coach who brings a lot of good energy.

I know him for a very long time because he was the player care kind of coach when I first came to Globock. So he was the one who took care of me and kind of showed me everything and was kind of my person of, who I had to speak to when I first went there if I ever had a problem. So I like him a lot. I think he's a good coach, and I think the results are starting to show. Is it harder to defend a really fast guy or a really dribbly guy?

Fast guy, for sure. Yeah? Yeah, for sure. Like 100%. Why? You're pretty fast. Yeah, that's the thing. So a dribbly guy, even if he goes around me, I could always catch up to him.

If you lose one of the fast guys, it's much difficult then to catch up to him. Even if when someone's running full speed at you, it's much harder to defend them when someone's coming at you, trying to just cut in and out. Who was the first fast guy like that that you had defended in your career where you're like, shit, this is tough? Or maybe the toughest, you know? I'm trying to think. I don't know.

That's difficult. Went up against Manet, right? Yeah, but it was not a good spell for him at Byron during the time, so it wasn't anything crazy. I would have to say, I guess, Common, Kings of Coleman. Okay. His cutting is insane, and his first meters are so, so quick, so I would have to say him. what percentage of coaching you receive like what percentage is um attacking versus defending like how much instruction are you getting in terms of how to go forward i guess it depends on the role yeah it depends on

the role i mean when i'm playing right wing back for my club the last couple times it's almost like i've been like right wing right kind of like striker in some of these uh attacks that we have i mean for me i'm not someone who's going to dribble like and and cut and do uh do scissors or moves i'm more like the powerful kind of thing so more runs behind if I'm playing that right wing back role, just kind of being explosive, doing one-two, something like that, whereas right-center back depends, again, kind of staying back, being more focused on defense,

obviously when you're right-centered back, rest defense for countertacks, things like that. How comfortably are you, you've done this before, like coming inside and build up, you know, into the midfield? Yeah, I mean, it always depends on how the game's going. You know, it's different situations you have to read, different spaces that you have to find. I think, as example in Paraguay,

I was kind of like as a free roam, mainly as a third centerback, just because they were kind of pressing man against man, so it was easy to open up and pass. I think we found those lanes. But my instruction was kind of be free roam in this kind of area, find the pockets, attack when need be, when chances were there. And I think that's kind of the main thing. You just have to kind of find the space and read it yourself.

Yeah, it was cool to see at one point, like come all the way up and overlap. Sergenio, right? I know he was in that attacking role, but you had some flexibility at the same. Yeah, exactly. And I think playing with someone with search who normally is a right-back and having him, his main thing is to attack and go one against one, I think having him free in that role is very important also. You recently switched back to Wasserman, right? Why?

Like what? I think, yeah, I was just, I left to kind of try something new to try a more European-based agency. In the end, you know, it didn't work out, you know, but still they're a very good agency, I think, coming back to Wassman, just more family-friendly, was something that I missed and that I wanted, and that was kind of... What do you look for in an agency? Like, what have you learned about that side? And what's important for young players and their families to know before they make the jump?

Yeah, I think you have to definitely get an agent who you trust and who is definitely close to you and cares, you know, and has you, you know, up on their list as one of their top players, I think, is very important because, you know, you don't want to go somewhere where, you know, you're the 10th or 20th guy, you know, then it's difficult. I mean, but it always depends on what you'd want to do in your career. You know, I would never say to young people, go jump and get an agent when you don't really, you know, know, know, what you want to do or what's the plan for you. So it's always hard. You've been linked to a lot of clubs in the past. I've heard you talk about the Premier League in the past, and we talked about that. What's next for you in your career? Like, what are your objectives at the club level?

Yeah, I mean, I have two years left. So, yeah, in theory, I guess what happens to most players is sometimes they get sold, you know, but you never know. I'm very happy at. At Globock, of course, my dream is to play in the Premier League. I mean, for me, kind of just trying to find that highest level I could possibly play out, which I think it's, you know, I don't know where it is. You know, I played a preseason game against Brentford

and had a very good game and had an assist so I can see myself, you know, doing very well in the prem, and when you're in the prem, it feels like, the possibilities are endless. You know, you have a couple of good games, and you kind of just can shoot up as a player, especially as a young player. So with my experience, I think it's kind of all possibilities are open. Joe Scali, proud of Long Island. Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much.