Sergino Dest’s long-term knee injury has opened up the No. 1 right back job in the U.S. men’s national team squad for the foreseeable future and Gregg Berhalter will have two eager options chomping at the bit this summer.
Joe Scally and Shaq Moore were the two right backs named to Berhalter’s 27-player roster on Monday ahead of June 8 and 11 friendlies against Colombia and Brazil respectively. Both Scally and Moore have featured during Berhalter’s two spells as head coach and are in different periods of their 2024 year.
Scally, 21, just recently concluded his third Bundesliga campaign with Borussia Moenchengladbach, logging 2,544 minutes of playing time in 35 combined appearances. The versatile defender has featured as a right back, left back, and even as a third centerback for the club this past campaign.
The 27-year-old Moore is in the midst of his third MLS season with Nashville SC, making eight starts for the Eastern Conference club this year. His 18 USMNT caps are double the amount of that to Scally despite Moore being six years older than his younger teammate.
Both Scally and Moore are not on the level to that of Dest, but both do bring experience to the table when it comes to playing for club and country.
“Obviously, with Sergiño going down, we have to figure out the right-back situation,” Berhalter said. “We just wanted the ability in this training camp to have options to have flexibility. Some of it may revolve around a back three.
But the first objective is to see how we’re gonna fill that right-back position because we know that we’re going to be missing Sergiño,” he added.
Tim Weah, who has featured for Juventus mainly as a right wing back is also under consideration for a similar role with the USMNT, but if Berhalter decides to use a four-man backline, expect both Scally and Moore to split time during the upcoming friendlies.
The USMNT takes on Colombia and Brazil before opening Copa America…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/05/joe-scally-shaq-moore-to-fight-for-right-back-opportunities-with-usmnt
Author : Larry Henry Jr
Publish date : 2024-05-20 22:25:12
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