U.S. national team fans will do their best to remind Rafa Marquez of the past four meetings between their side and Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, when the fifth installment takes place Friday, but the 37-year-old is thinking only about the present.
Marquez played in the original "dos a cero" game in 2001, then captained the team in 2005 and 2009 defeats before missing out on the 2013 edition. But despite a storied history with the rivalry match, Marquez claimed he "doesn't remember the past games" and is instead totally focused on getting a win Friday to start the final round of World Cup qualification in CONCACAF with a win this time around.
"This is a new stage with players in Europe, almost half the team, and that’s important. They’re different eras, and I’m not remembering" the old one, he said. "I’m living in another time with different players with enormous potential in the team, and we’re trying to leave that in the past."
Though many critics have wondered why the Atlas defender is still playing after a long and storied career, Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio has put confidence in the veteran as recently as this summer, when he started matches in the Copa America Centenario. And the former UEFA Champions League winner says he's making the most of his final years on the field rather than taking a more relaxing path or transitioning into punditry like many of his peers.
"It’s a new opportunity," Marquez said. "For me, it would be very easy to retire, maybe be at home scratching my belly, watching, criticizing, but no, at the end of the day my ambition is wanting to do something different and to see a better national team that has me here trying to help, working, sharing my experience on and off the field."
"We're working to try to see our best version of this team. We’ve got all the potential and the intent to get the victory," he continued.
Mexico faces the U.S. at 8:01 p.m. ET on Friday before traveling to Panama for its final match of 2016.
