Argentina, Brazil and Italy lead way to quarter-finals

Argentina and Brazil remained on course for a semi-final showdown in the men's Olympic football competition as the final eight sorted themselves out in the last round of Group matches on Wednesday.

Argentina and Brazil remained on course for a semi-final showdown in the men’s Olympic football competition as the final eight sorted themselves out in the last round of Group matches on Wednesday.

Italy emerged as the best of the rest and have the kindest draw with the prospect of a semi-final against Nigeria if the Group winners also win their opening play-off match.

Defending champions Argentina kept Lionel Messi on the bench but were still too good for Serbia for their ninth consecutive Games win, an Olympic record after going through unbeaten in Athens four years ago.

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They beat the Serbs 2-0 with a penalty by Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 12th minute and a free kick from Angel de Maria more than an hour later.

A goal from Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou gave Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Australia to qualify second in Group A and an African showdown with Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

Argentina play the Netherlands in the quarter-finals while Brazil play Cameroon.

A brace from Thiago Neves helped Brazil to beat China 3-0 ending any hope the host nation had of going through.

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Such was the pressure on the Chinese to perform that their one point from three games drew the ire of their fans with one online commentator describing their performances as ‘full of shame and disgust’.