Going for Gold: Mexico Focus on Rio Olympics as They Aim for Repeat of 2012

The 2012 London Olympics were full of sporting highlights. American swimmer Michael Phelps took his career medal tally to an astonishing 22, Jamaican Usain Bolt did the sprint double and Britain's Mo Farah thrilled the home crowd by winning both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

Mexico finished the Games with seven medals. Their solitary gold didn't come on the track or in the pool, but instead on the football field.

Despite being denied the services of Javier Hernandez—who was blocked from playing for his country by Manchester United—El Tri upset the odds to beat Brazil in the final.

Oribe Peralta was the hero for coach Luis Fernando Tena's squad, the forward scoring twice at Wembley Stadium to secure a 2-1 win over a side that contained Neymar, Marcelo and Thiago Silva.

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The Olympic champions didn't have the same level of star quality as their opponents, who were able to send on Hulk, Alexandre Pato and Lucas Moura from the bench.

What they did have, however, was a united XI all pulling in the same direction. The overage trio of goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona, who captained the side, Carlos Salcido and Peralta (it is essentially an under-23 event with three overaged players allowed) all played pivotal roles in helping their young compatriots to glory.

Now Mexico's squad of 2016 is preparing to defend their Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Raul Gutierrez is the man in charge of the current crop. The signs were good when they breezed through the 2015 CONCACAF qualifying championship in the United States, going unbeaten in the competition.

Since then, however, things haven't gone quite so well. In 2016, Mexico's under-23 team have only won once in six matches. Despite the disappointing form, Gutierrez is confident things will come good for the Olympics.

He told Alejandro Lifschitz of Rio2016.com: "We are ready to defend our gold medal. We have the quality and we are working hard. I believe that the current generation of footballers has grown with their successes. We will continue with the same passion as before."

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Mexico fans know that form means nothing when it comes to major tournaments. The full side were on a 22-match unbeaten run when they met Chile in the quarter-finals of the Copa America Centenario on June 18. They lost that match 7-0.

Gutierrez won't come under quite the same level of scrutiny as Juan Carlos Osorio, the senior team's head coach whose future was uncertain until the Mexican federation (FMF) confirmed on Thursday he will be carrying on in his role, per Tom Marshall of ESPN FC.

However, that doesn't mean the junior squad will travel to Brazil without a level of expectancy.

They have been drawn in Group C alongside Germany, Fiji and South Korea. But like the Copa—where Osorio's side had to pick their poison between facing Argentina or Chile in the last eight—the draw has not been kind to Mexico's Under-23 team.

Just like at the Copa, Argentina could lie in wait in the knockout stages. Portugal look the other likely likely qualifier from Group D.

But enough of the gloomy forecast, it is the summer Olympics after all.

Gutierrez has already picked a 25-man squad for a training camp. His final selection will be cut down to 18.

The key to their hopes of winning a medal could rest on the identity of the three seniors. Striker Hernandez will not be one of those drafted in, as Bayer Leverkusen only cleared him to feature in the Copa America between Bundesliga seasons.

Following Tena's example in 2012 by selecting an experienced goalkeeper would make some sense—Corona is still going strong at 35 and played only once during the Copa America.

Yet Peralta's goals were so pivotal in winning gold, and a strong forward would provide a focal point at the head of the field for Mexico's young stars to work around.

Hernandez would have been a wonderful option to have, but European clubs are understandably unwilling to allow their players to be away at a competition that runs until August 20.

Erick Torres did score three times in the unbeaten qualifying campaign. The 23-year-old, nicknamed "Cubo," has had a tough time of it in Major League Soccer with the Houston Dynamo. Per Benjamin Baer of MLS Soccer, the forward has made just seven appearances (two of them starts) this season.

Wingers Hirving Lozano and Juan "Tecatito" Corona both still qualify as underage players but were not named in the training squad due to their Copa commitments.

That tournament in the United States at least proved there is no quick path to the top for Mexico. Chile—a nation that has developed a group of players over a number of years—taught them a footballing lesson.

Now El Tri must put their faith in youth, hoping some of the country's rising stars can use the Olympics as a springboard to success with the full team.

Some have already had a taste of international football, including defenders Raul Lopez and Carlos Salcedo, plus midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro. Participating at the Games will only help their footballing education.

No matter who makes the final squad, Mexico's fans can be hopeful ahead of the Olympics.

A Brazil squad led by Neymar on home turf will be the favourites to get the gold medal that has so far eluded the famous footballing nation, but don't count out the reigning champions defending their title.