Saturday night’s friendly with the US will provide Rafa Márquez his first true test as El Tri’s head coach

Rafa Márquez's journey as El Tri's head coach began last week with a pair of 1-1 draws against South American teams, but it will truly commence on Saturday night when El Tri faces a young and skilled U.S. squad in Phoenix, Arizona. Though this match is merely a friendly at the start of a lengthy process leading up to the 2030 World Cup, the friendly's significance is heightened due to the fierce regional rivalry.

Mexico had already beaten Colombia in Baltimore and Peru in New Jersey, with Márquez succeeding Javier Aguirre following a World Cup loss to England. Both coaches are currently more concerned with development than results. However, a loss to Team USA would be a setback for Márquez, particularly because the U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino included 13 uncapped players, comprising eight teenagers.

Márquez has assembled an experimental 30-man roster, blending veteran experience, players in their prime, and promising young talent. Unlike Pochettino, who brings consistency to the U.S. team, Márquez aims to introduce a faster playing style that will necessitate repetition, experimentation, and patience. Mexico's performance thus far has been inconsistent.

In the game against Colombia, Márquez fielded a seasoned team that managed to contain an early onslaught from Colombia, dominated possession for extended periods, and outshot their opponents 14-4. Teen sensation Gilberto Mora scored the equalizer in the 62nd minute, pleasing Mexican fans. However, in the match against Peru, a less experienced lineup struggled to create effective attacking opportunities and displayed poor possession control against a weaker side.

Through two games, it is evident that Márquez has work to do. He must tackle a lackluster front line, promote quick ball movement, and stress the significance of improved first touches, which were glaring issues against Peru. While the 2030 World Cup ultimately remains the ultimate goal, Márquez will face his first significant challenge next month in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.

Regardless of the outcome against Team USA (and against Chile on October 6), it remains to be seen if the often harshly critical Mexican media will maintain a focus on the long-term objective.