Mexico national football team coach Rafa Márquez has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to El Tri, stating there are no minor matches when wearing the national shirt. This comes as striker Zakaria Eddahchouri has turned down an offer from Tigres of Mexico to continue his career in Spain's LaLiga. The national team, leading their World Cup qualifying group with 9 points and a run of four wins in their last five games, prepares for its next challenge against Colombia on September 26th.
Rafael Márquez, the current head coach of the Mexican national side, made his philosophy clear during an event organized by the Telmex Telcel Foundation. The former captain stated that for him there were never matches of lesser importance during his playing days. "I always, as a player, was dying to come to the National Team, even if it was a 'molero' friendly, as journalists call them," Márquez said. His desire to represent Mexico was so strong it made it impossible to refuse the call from the Mexican Football Federation when they offered him the coaching role.
Márquez also recalled how his international career took off unexpectedly at age 19, under manager Manuel Lapuente at the Copa América in Paraguay. His performance in that tournament, particularly in a match against Chile, caught the eye of scouts from Monaco who had initially gone to watch another player. This fortuitous turn was the first step toward a successful career in Europe, a dream he had cultivated since childhood watching Italian football on television.
Dutch striker Zakaria Eddahchouri has declined an offer from Tigres of Mexico to remain with Deportivo La Coruña. Journalist Santiago Fourcade first reported the Mexican club's interest. Eddahchouri, 26, was the top scorer for the Coruña-based team last season with 13 goals, totaling 17 goals and 6 assists in 56 appearances.
The forward is clear that his goal is to succeed in one of Europe's major leagues. Despite increased competition at his club with players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddahchouri wants to fight for his place under manager Antonio Hidalgo. His decision to reject the move and stay in Spain shows his commitment to the sporting project in LaLiga, where he has found room to develop.
El Tri approaches its next official commitment, a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Colombia, from a position of great strength. The team is the outright leader of its group with a perfect record after three wins, scoring 6 goals and conceding none, giving them a 5-point lead over their closest challenger, South Africa.
Their last result was a 3-2 defeat to England on July 6th, but since then they have strung together four consecutive victories. This solid performance provides an optimistic context for the match on September 26th at home. Fans can follow the squad's evolution and see the full call-up list for the match in our squad section. The team led by Márquez will look to maintain its positive streak and its defensive unbeaten run in the qualifying tournament.
