El Kaiser was supposed to bring the swagger. Instead, Rafa Marquez’s Mexico tenure has started with two draws and a thumping. Here is the full story behind the Rafa Marquez Mexico record, and what it really means.
The Numbers: Rafa Marquez’s First Three Games
Mexico has not won during this window, with two draws and one loss, making Marquez the first Mexico coach since Manuel Lapuente in 1997 to fail to win his first three games, not counting interim managers.
- Mexico 1-1 Colombia: El Tri recovered from an early goal by Luis Suarez, and Gilberto Mora equalised with a brilliant strike for his first national team goal.
- Mexico 1-1 Peru: Another draw followed on Tuesday.
- USMNT 3-0 Mexico: The painful one, in Glendale, Arizona.
What Went Wrong Against the USMNT
The loss was brutal, and mostly self-inflicted. Mexico held 61 percent of first-half possession, yet the USMNT capitalized on three Mexico errors, two of them by goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
Rangel’s foot deflected a Gio Reyna cross in the 28th minute, and 18-year-old Julian Hall made it 1-0. Just before halftime, Mexican outlet Record said Santiago Gimenez missed a clear chance to equalise.
Then 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan intercepted a sloppy Rangel pass and lofted in the second in the 62nd minute, becoming the youngest scorer in USMNT history.
Mateo Chavez was sent off in the 67th minute, and Malik Tillman added a late third.
What Marquez Said
The coach did not hide from it. He said his players practically gifted the goals to the opposition. Before that, he had described these games as part of a process to see players in tough situations. He also pointed to the positives, including how well Mexico played before the first goal.
Why This Is Not (Yet) a Crisis
Take a breath. These were friendlies, and Marquez took the job with limited coaching experience, after two years as Aguirre’s assistant and two years managing Barcelona B. He is also working with a squad coming off a promising World Cup in which Mexico won all three group games without conceding and then beat Ecuador in the round of 32. Mexico’s World Cup run ended against England.
Final Thoughts
Rafa Marquez has no wins in three games, but the real judgment will come over a much bigger sample. Still, the pressure is real, and Mexico fans do not wait long. Bookmark this page for the Chile match report, and tell us in the comments: should Marquez keep faith with his current squad?
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