Mexico captain Rafa Marquez brushed off retirement talk here Friday as he prepared for the latest test of his glittering international career with a showdown against arch rivals the United States.

The 36-year-old veteran of four World Cups said he was content to see out the remainder of his international career on a game-by-game basis as he readied himself for Saturday's Confederations Cup play-off in Pasadena.

The former Barcelona defender said he had learned after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa -- when he initially planned to retire -- not to set deadlines on his career.

"In the World Cup in South Africa I thought maybe I would retire," Marquez told reporters.

"But the level of football keeps me here.

"I'm conscious that at some point my level will drop. So really I'm just going to enjoy doing what I can, while I can. Tomorrow is just another game."

Marquez, who made his Mexico debut way back in 1997 in a match against Ecuador, has been a virtual ever-present for "El Tri" in nearly two decades since, and is a veteran of several clashes against the United States.

"It's been a long time that I've been playing against the United States, I don't know how many games I've had against them.

"But we have a passion for this game. Sports-wise I think the matches in the past have always been wonderful."

Marquez meanwhile played down the expectation surrounding Mexico as they head into Saturday's high stakes clash in front of a sell-out 93,000 crowd at the Rose Bowl.

"The team has a great deal of potential and we just want to show that tomorrow," he said.

"I hope the team can show that," adding that the team was not under any "obligation" to win.

"I don't know if we should think about it that way," he said.

"We have great commitment to have a good game tomorrow. We're going to try and take that pressure off of having the obligation to win."