Mexico will get the chance to make up for a four-year grudge against Argentina today.

At the 2006 World Cup, Argentina beat Mexico – thanks to an extraordinary goal by Maxi Rodriguez – in the round of 16 and fate has conspired to match the two sides at precisely the same stage of this year's tournament.

“I have a thorn in my side from four years ago and hopefully on Sunday we can take it out,” said midfielder Rafael Marquez, who scored Mexico's solitary goal in that 2-1 defeat in 2006.

The two teams have played each other 25 times, of which the Mexicans have only won four.

But Marquez insists he and his colleagues are not daunted by the prospect of Lionel Messi, the Barcelona forward who has lit up the tournament but has yet to score himself.

“We are better than that 2006 Mexico team, which didn't have so many players in European teams,” said Marquez.

“Argentina has the best player in the world, Leo Messi, and that makes them more complete. But we will try to change all that.”

Rodriguez is expecting a cagey approach from Mexico coach Javier Aguirre's side.

“Aguirre is a very intelligent coach,” he said. “I don't think they'll come out attacking us right away. They'll wait to hit us on the counter.”