O Captain! My Captain! Rafael Marquez Shows His Value as Mexico Beat Paraguay

A win and a clean sheet. In terms of preparation for the upcoming Copa America Centenario, Mexico’s 1-0 win over Paraguay went pretty much to plan.

El Tri scored a wonderful team goal in the first half to settle a contest that, overall, will not live too long in the memory.

Jesus Duenas’ pass over the top perfectly picked out the run down the right flank by Jurgen Damm, who was able to carry the ball infield, drawing goalkeeper Justo Villar in the process.

Rather than shooting, Damm unselfishly squared the ball to the supporting Andres Guardado, who only had to tap home beyond a defender desperately trying to get back and cover the unguarded net.

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Gool de Mex .!!!  #eltri #mexico #miseleccionmx pic.twitter.com/Kd5kJCjMKi

— Alex.⚽️ (@mundo_defutbol) May 28, 2016"

The incisive play for the goal wasn’t in keeping with the rest of the game.

However, an international friendly right before a major tournament is always a tricky prospect.

For some, it is a chance to make a late impression before the serious stuff begins.

For those who are already certain of a starting berth and are only concerned with coming through the contest unscathed, it is a case of self-preservation while maintaining match fitness.

As for Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio, the result kept his winning streak going. Since taking charge toward the end of 2015, the Colombian's side has won six on the spin without conceding.

A toothless Paraguay side rarely threatened to end the run of clean sheets.

Reigning Copa champions Chile, who Mexico face in a friendly on Wednesday, should provide a sterner test, and it will be interesting to see whether Osorio continues to employ a back three, as he did against La Albirroja at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The linchpin in the middle of the defence against Paraguay was Rafael Marquez, a wise old head who has—to put it kindly—had a tricky time of it at Club Atlas.

However, in winning his 130th cap for his country, the 37-year-old proved that while club form can be temporary, international class is permanent.

In awarding Marquez a 7.5 out of 10 in his match ratings, Cesar Hernandez of ESPN FC wrote: "Like it or not, the 37-year-old had a good game for Mexico. Marquez easily controlled the backline and almost scored a goal for Mexico off a header early in the match."

Marquez is not in the team to score goals; he's there to help prevent them at the other end of the field.

The performance of one of Mexico’s wise old heads will have pleased Osorio, who has shown faith in the player based on his international pedigree rather than recent club performances.

Marquez has no doubt had tougher tests defensively—Paraguay were relatively poor, and Osorio employed Jesus Molina as a deep-lying midfielder to screen the defence.

But as Tom Marshall pointed out on ESPN FC, there is no certainty El Tri will be set up in a similar formation for their next game, let alone the next few weeks:

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In Osorio's six games in charge of Mexico so far, he has used at least four distinct tactical approaches. The team isn't conceding goals and is winning games. Although the major tests lie in ahead at the Copa, it all bodes well moving forward.

As for the Copa America, opposition coaches will likely have little clue how Osorio will line up for each of the matches.

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Only Osorio knows whether Marquez is part of Mexico’s defensive foundations or just a squad member there to be called upon when required.

What he offers is a calm head combined with a classy playmaker who can build attacks from deep. Indeed, Duenas' pass to set up the winning goal against Paraguay was one Marquez has made on plenty of occasions through the years.

The former Monaco and Barcelona defender has barely featured for the national team of late.

He was recalled for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Canada on March 25 but played just 45 minutes of his side’s 3-0 triumph.

LLUIS GENE/Getty Images

Yet when it comes to the Copa, Marquez could find himself a central figure for El Tri once again.

Mexico have high hopes of winning the competition for the first time at the 10th attempt. The draw has not been too kind, though—they are in Group C alongside Uruguay, their first opponents on June 5.

They will still expect to progress at the expense of Jamaica and Venezuela, the other nations in the pool.

However, the schedule then sees them play one of the top two from Group D. If it goes to form, that will mean a quarter-final tie against either Argentina or Chile.

Still, Mexico are a team to be feared.

They are on an 18-match unbeaten run and have a wealth of playing resources, giving Osorio the kind of headache a coach craves.

It will be fascinating to see whether Marquez is selected to face a Uruguay side that might include the potent pairing of Luis Suarez (fitness permitting) and Edinson Cavani.

El Tri have twice been the bridesmaid at the Copa yet never the bride. Marquez wasn't around for the 2-1 final defeat to Argentina in 1993, but he was part of the squad that lost 1-0 to Colombia in 2001, although he did not feature in the game.

A year later, however, he was captaining his nation at the 2002 World Cup.

Marquez had the armband again on Saturday. The sands of time have obviously slowed the body. The mind, though, is still more than willing.

He could play a key part in Mexico’s campaign, marshalling a back three, four or five, depending on how the tinkering Osorio chooses to line up for each different opponent.

When asked about his side's chances in the Copa, Marquez said, per FourFourTwo: "Within the team there is a commitment of wanting to win, to fight with everything and make the final of the competition."

Marquez knows what it takes make the final of the competition. He will also know that, with the next Copa not scheduled until 2019, this is likely to be his last chance at glory.