The Kaiser faces La Roja again, this time as Mexico’s head coach.
Chile delivered Mexico’s harshest recent Copa América defeat, a 7‑0 thrashing in the 2016 quarter‑finals. Rafael Márquez was on the roster that night but never stepped onto the pitch.
This Tuesday, the Tri will clash with Chile, marking the Kaiser’s long‑awaited reunion with the South American side after that nightmare loss, one of Mexico’s biggest disappointments.
Márquez watched from the bench while Héctor Moreno and Néstor Araujo anchored central defence, with Miguel Layún and Paul Aguilar patrolling the flanks under Juan Carlos Osorio.
Which members of that 7‑0 lineup are still with the Tri?
Over a decade later, two former players remain in Mexico’s plans and featured in that match: striker Raúl Jiménez and winger Hirving Lozano.
Jiménez, sidelined by injury and absent from the current FIFA window, still figures in Márquez’s plans at 35, a proven goal threat. Lozano logged minutes against Colombia but left the field early due to a niggle and returned to LA Galaxy, missing the upcoming Chile showdown.
Guardado also featured in the 7‑0 loss.
Andrés Guardado started that game and now serves as Márquez’s assistant, giving him a personal reunion; he already faced Chile in 2019, winning 3‑1.
Márquez now seeks revenge from the sidelines, even though he didn’t play in the original fixture that propelled La Roja to a celebrated era yet left them out of the 2018, 2022 and upcoming 2026 World Cups. In my view, this is a chance for redemption.