GOIANA: Olympic football favourites and hosts Brazil beat beat Japan 2-0 in their final Games warm-up with two first-half goals. They kick off their bid for gold on Thursday in Brasilia against South Africa.

Santos striker Gabriel Barbosa opened the scoring after 32 minutes when his shot was deflected past Japan keeper Kosuke Nakamura. Marquinhos scored a second eight minutes later when he beat two defenders to the ball to head home a corner.

Brazil were dominant throughout and particularly in the first half when the outstanding Neymar and Thiago Maia both hit the posts.

The Brazilians will also face Iraq and Denmark in the group stage of the Olympics, the one major international title they have never won. Brazil have finished with the silver medal on three occasions, most recently in London four years ago.

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