体坛英语新闻：Mexico soccer gold chalked up to maturity: coach

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's national soccer team clinched the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, because the sport has matured in Mexico, the team coach Luis Fernando Tena said Monday.

The victory has to do with how soccer is growing. The physical and mental strength are growing and we insist that it's because the clubs are working good," said Tena in a press conference after he returned to Mexico from London.

Tena said that Mexican clubs are "working good in the junior teams," and that is why the Mexican soccer team has won the U-17 World Championship in 2005 and 2011, and won the gold medal in the 2012 summer games with the U-23 team.

"Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico and it had never achieved a victory so relevant until last Saturday, when it defeated Brazil 2-1 in the London 2012 Olympic Games' men's soccer final match.

"We hope the Mexican soccer team's victory will be a good example for the children and youngsters, who have seen Mexico win championships lately," said Tena.

Tena, former coach of Mexican clubs Cruz Azul, Monarcas Morelia and Club America, said he wasn't surprised by the success of his players because "they believed in themselves thanks to the results it obtained and because youth has a very good mental strength."

"The victory is a great joy, a great pride for being Mexican. It's a great example to know that Mexicans are capable to win, if and when we have decision and mental strength," he added.