RUSTENBURG, South Africa — The talk around Mexico's World Cup camp last week was as much about respect as it was about Argentina star Lionel Messi.

And for good reason.

The Argentines rolled through group play unbeaten while Mexico struggled, losing to Uruguay and tying South Africa.

Argentina has won two World Cups; Mexico never has made it past the quarterfinals — and hasn't made it that far in 24 years.

Plus Argentina has Messi, the world's best player. And Mexico doesn't.

But despite what everyone else considers to be impossibly long odds facing El Tri, the Mexicans say they're not going to be intimidated Sunday.

"It's Argentina. So what?" Rafael Marquez said in Spanish. "We can beat them."

For Marquez this match is personal. The 31-year-old defender, playing in his third World Cup, saw the last one end in a second-round loss to Argentina in extra time. Four years later he still hasn't gotten over it.

"I have a thorn in my side from (that)," said Marquez, one of eight members of this year's Mexican team who also played in the 2006 World Cup. "This is going to be my last World Cup, and we have to take advantage of this game. We're just a step away from history."

A victory would send Mexico to the quarterfinals for just the third time — and the first since coach Javier Aguirre played for the national team.

"It's an opportunity to change the history, to transcend it and go forward," said goalkeeper Oscar Perez, 37, also playing in his last World Cup. "Javier has given us the tools to win."

Doing that is likely to require a delicate balancing act. Under Aguirre, Mexico has played a dynamic game in which its midfielders and most of its defenders push forward. That has left it open to counterattacks, though, and with Messi leading a speedy front line, Mexico could find itself playing into Argentina's hands.

Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, who scored the winning goal against Mexico in 2006, believes Aguirre will change styles Sunday. The Mexicans say it's just a matter of being careful.

"We intend to take good care of the ball," midfielder Gerardo Torrado said. "And when we don't have it, we have to try to get it back as soon as possible."

kbaxter@tribune.com