MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s Olympic soccer team flew to Spain on Monday, where it will play England on July 15 in the first of three friendly matches before competing in London.

The other two friendlies will take place in Cadiz, a July 18 match with Spain, and in Nottingham, England, where the Mexicans will face Japan on July 21.

Mexico has never won an Olympic medal in soccer but now sees its chances improved following its victory in the Panamerican Games last October and its win this year in the Conacaf Olympic qualifiers.

In the Olympic Games the Mexicans have been assigned to Group B. They will debut against South Korea on July 26 in Newcastle. Afterwards they will take on Gabon on July 2 and then Switzerland on Aug. 1 in Cardiff.

The Mexican soccer squad did not qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The Mexican delegation at the 2012 Olympics in London comprises 102 athletes led by taekwondo champ Maria Espinoza, the nation’s flag-bearer. Another outstanding performer will be diver Paola Espinosa, who won Olympic bronze in 2008 for 10-meter platform synchro diving.

Besides soccer, taekwondo and diving, Mexico is counting on its athletes in track and field, archery and boxing.

In the history of the Olympic Games, Mexico has won 55 medals – 12 gold, 18 silver and 25 bronze. EFE