Marquez not short of confidence

Mexican ace Rafael Marquez could become one of the most expensive transfers once these World Cup Finals are over - so he needs to be a confident young man.

And the 22-year-old certainly shows all that and more as he prepares for Mexico’s tilt at the quarter finals against underdog neighbours USA here.

He believes Mexico can win the World Cup.

Defender Marquez knows he is sitting on a fortune. After an impressive spell with Monaco he is being chased now by Real Madrid and AC Milan, with his valuation reported at around £20m (€31m).

Further top notch displays here - he has been Mexico’s best player in the tournament - will only reinforce that price tag.

And Marquez believes he could be continuing to seek his European fortune - unlike the vast majority of his Mexico team-mates - with a winners’ medal in his back pocket.

Marquez, relishing the clash with America, said: ‘‘With favourites like France and Argentina out, I think we have the chance to go all the way to the final.

‘‘Mentally we are well prepared and we believe we are good and can be the best in the world. We can go as far as we want.’’

Certainly that should be past this second stage clash with the States, with a a quarter-final clash with Germany next on the agenda in Ulsan on Friday.

That prospect does not seem to worry Marquez either. He said: ‘‘Mexico are progressing with every match, we are confident.’’

A clash with Germany would be of special significance for Mexico’s inspirational young coach Javier Aguirre, who could soon also be making his name in Europe as the likely new boss of Spanish side Osasuna.

He has bitter memories of being part of the Mexico side which hosted the tournament and saw them beaten 4-1 on penalties in the quarter-finals by the Germans.

The fact Germany also beat Mexico in the 1998 second round further underlines the Mexican desire for revenge.

But first they must put away a gutsy USA team who are at this stage for only the second time since 1930.

Aguirre, 42, says: ‘‘We are relaxed, we have no injuries and we can’t wait for the game. I would anticipate fielding the same side as in our last match.

‘‘We know each other very well but I doubt that’s an advantage to either of us just because we know each other’s characteristics.’’

The surprise appearance of the these sides in the last 16 further underlines the shock element of the first ever Far East tournament.

Aguirre said: ‘‘I do accept one of the reasons is the heavy workload top players do have in Europe and the strength of their leagues.

‘‘I feel that certainly applies to the Portuguese who have players in every top league in Europe.’’

The States will be without suspended full-back Frankie Hejduk and the injured defender Jeff Agoos, which gives boss Bruce Arena plenty of problems with his defence.

But he feels the US can continue their romantic ride through the Korean qualifiers to a point where they can go further in the tournament than at any time in the last 72 years.

Back in 1930, when only 13 teams entered, they reached the semi-finals before being blasted out 6-1 by Argentina.

Arena says: ‘‘Traditionally games between ourselves and Mexico are very tight, with few goals. I don’t expect this one to be any different.

‘‘We have done marvellously well to get this far and the chance of playing Germany in the last eight is a real incentive for my team.’’

Striker Cobi Jones, the former Coventry player now a veteran at 31 and the most capped in his country’s history with close on 160 internationals, is playing in his third World Cup Finals.

‘‘I played in the second phase back in ’94, it was good to face Brazil then but we lost. I have had enough of that, we want to play good teams and win. You want to go to the next level and beat them, whoever it is.’’