Team GB were outclassed by Brazil in their first and only serious outing before they start their Olympic campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Stuart Pearce's team were given an indication of the huge task facing them if they are to win a medal at the Games as Brazil, one of the pre-tournament favourites, cruised to victory at the Riverside Stadium.

It was always going to be a difficult task for Pearce's side against a hugely talented team not only determined to win their first Olympic football gold but also looking to build towards the World Cup they host in 2014.

Tottenham midfielder Sandro headed his team in front with just 12 minutes gone after a free-kick was allowed to reach him at the far post and Neymar doubled the advantage from the penalty spot before the break.

Brazil experience

All of Brazil's Olympic 18-man squad have played for the senior side whereas only seven of the Team GB squad have played for either England or Wales at full international level

Mano Menezes's side were certainly worthy of their lead at half-time and looked like a team keeping plenty in reserve, although their opponents certainly improved as the match wore on.

Brazil took an early grip on the contest and at times mesmerised their bewildered opponents with a well-honed willingness to pass and move, constantly seeking space to exploit.

Oscar, reportedly heading to Chelsea, was particularly superb in this respect, with a gift for finding space both to receive possession and pick out a team-mate.

In contrast, and understandably, there were times when Team GB looked like a group of strangers, particularly in defence.

The central defensive pairing of James Tomkins and Micah Richards - changed at the break when Steven Caulker replaced Tomkins - allowed Leandro Damiao to flick a goal-kick on to Neymar just minutes into the contest. The striker was clean through but smashed his shot wide.

Neymar showed the theatrical side of his game when he went down on the edge of the GB area just before the half-hour mark and stayed there for an extended period, much to the consternation of the crowd, who sprung into life by booing him and then subjecting him to a slow hand clap.

Pearce confident of GB improvement

Before that the atmosphere inside the ground had been very flat, almost as though nobody quite knew what to chant.

The 20-year-old Santos forward was unfazed and shortly afterwards showed great composure in slotting his penalty into the bottom corner after Richards had lost track of Hulk and fouled the Porto forward from behind.

Team GB made changes at the break, with goalkeeper Jack Butland the busiest of the new arrivals, first denying Oscar and then Damiao.

The home team did briefly threaten when Danny Rose drilled a low cross that Craig Bellamy, booed throughout by the Boro crowd as a consequence of his former association with Newcastle, stabbed goalwards, only to be ruled offside.

And there were certainly more encouraging signs for Team GB after the break as they slowly grew into the contest, which is their first serious outing following a behind-closed-doors match against Mexico last weekend.

But the cutting edge continued to belong to Brazil, who open their Olympic campaign against Egypt in Cardiff, and Neymar drew a brilliant one-handed save from the excellent Butland, who also smothered an attempt from Lucas and palmed over an effort from Alexandre Pato.

By the end there had been 12 substitutions and the tempo had dropped considerably, but Team GB will need to step it up quickly if they are to qualify from a group that includes Uruguay and United Arab Emirates in addition to Senegal.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (12)

Great Britain

  • 18 Steele (Butland - 46' )
  • 02 Taylor
  • 03 Bertrand (Sinclair - 49' )
  • 12 Tomkins (Caulker - 46' )
  • 14 Richards Booked (Dawson - 74' )
  • 04 Rose
  • 07 Cleverley
  • 08 Allen
  • 11 Giggs (Ramsey - 63' )
  • 09 Sturridge (Cork - 46' )
  • 10 Bellamy (Sordell - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Butland
  • 05 Caulker
  • 06 Dawson
  • 13 Cork
  • 15 Ramsey
  • 16 Sinclair
  • 17 Sordell

Brazil

  • 01 Barbosa
  • 02 Rafael
  • 03 Thiago Silva
  • 04 Juan
  • 06 Marcelo (Alex Sandro - 80' )
  • 05 Sandro (Danilo - 85' )
  • 08 Romulo
  • 10 Oscar (da Silva Lucas - 68' )
  • 09 Leandro Damiao (Alexandre Pato - 74' )
  • 11 Neymar
  • 12 Hulk (Paulo Henrique - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 18 Neto
  • 13 Bortolanca Bruno Uvini
  • 14 Danilo
  • 15 Alex Sandro
  • 07 da Silva Lucas
  • 16 Paulo Henrique
  • 17 Alexandre Pato
Ref: Clement Turpin
Att: 18,000

Match Stats

Shots

5 20

On target

1 12

Corners

3 10

Fouls

9 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:29 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:05

Rodrigues Lucas takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caulker.

90:00 +1:40

The ball is swung over by Paulo Henrique Ganso, da Silva Alexandre Pato takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland. Inswinging corner taken by Junior Neymar from the left by-line. Junior Neymar takes a inswinging corner.

90:00 +1:09

Rodrigues Lucas takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

89:19

Junior Neymar takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

87:15

Junior Neymar concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Cleverley. Joe Allen takes the direct free kick.

85:14

Marvin Sordell challenges Emiliano Thiago Silva unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Emiliano Thiago Silva.

84:16 Substitution

Substitution Raniere Sandro goes off and Da Silva Danilo comes on.

80:55

Junior Neymar has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

80:09

Jack Cork gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rodrigues Lucas. Junior Neymar takes the free kick.

79:36

Centre by Danny Rose, clearance by Rafael Da Silva.

79:05 Substitution

Substitution Lobo Alex Sandro is brought on as a substitute for Junior Marcelo.

77:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emiliano Thiago Silva by Marvin Sordell. Free kick taken by Barbosa Rafael.

77:06

Junior Neymar takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

74:57

Unfair challenge on Junior Neymar by Neil Taylor results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Junior Neymar.

74:11

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Junior Neymar, clearance made by Craig Dawson.

73:05 Substitution

Substitution Craig Dawson is brought on as a substitute for Micah Richards.

73:05 Substitution

Substitution Da Silva Alexandre Pato replaces Da Silva Leandro Damiao.

69:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Sinclair by Rafael Da Silva. Danny Rose restarts play with the free kick.

68:51

Junior Marcelo sends in a cross, Danny Rose manages to make a clearance.

67:38 Substitution

Substitution Paulo Henrique Ganso comes on in place of Givaldinho Hulk.

67:27 Substitution

Substitution Rodrigues Lucas joins the action as a substitute, replacing Emboaba Oscar.

67:15

Borges Romulo takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

66:30

Junior Neymar decides to take a short corner.

66:13

Junior Neymar takes a shot. Blocked by Neil Taylor.

65:20

Centre by Rafael Da Silva, blocked by Danny Rose.

63:44

Foul by Junior Marcelo on Tom Cleverley, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aaron Ramsey.

63:21 Substitution

Substitution Craig Bellamy goes off and Marvin Sordell comes on.

62:54 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Ramsey comes on in place of Ryan Giggs.

61:58

Corner taken right-footed by Junior Neymar from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Joe Allen.

61:34

The ball is crossed by Givaldinho Hulk, Steven Caulker gets a block in.

60:32

The ball is swung over by Danny Rose.

58:48

Centre by Danny Rose, Emiliano Thiago Silva makes a clearance.

58:22

Da Silva Leandro Damiao is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Neil Taylor takes the direct free kick.

56:13

The official flags Craig Bellamy offside. Direct free kick taken by Barbosa Rafael.

56:12

Centre by Danny Rose.

54:43

Danny Rose sends in a cross, blocked by Rafael Da Silva.

53:01

Da Silva Leandro Damiao takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

50:32

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Emboaba Oscar from the left by-line, Da Silva Leandro Damiao has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

50:01

Emboaba Oscar takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

49:09

Corner taken right-footed by Junior Neymar, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Raniere Sandro misses to the right of the target.

48:35 Substitution

Substitution (Great Britain) makes a substitution, with Scott Sinclair coming on for Ryan Bertrand.

46:48

Borges Romulo has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Steven Caulker comes on in place of James Tomkins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jason Steele leaves the field to be replaced by Jack Butland.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Sturridge leaves the field to be replaced by Jack Cork.

45:00 +1:44 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:14

Danny Rose takes a shot.

45:00 +0:55

The offside flag is raised against Givaldinho Hulk. Micah Richards restarts play with the free kick.

44:09

Emboaba Oscar takes a shot. Blocked by James Tomkins.

43:27

Drilled left-footed shot by Junior Neymar. Blocked by Micah Richards. Junior Neymar decides to take a short corner.

42:34

Givaldinho Hulk produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

42:05

Givaldinho Hulk fouled by Danny Rose, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Guilherme Juan.

40:50

Unfair challenge on Tom Cleverley by Raniere Sandro results in a free kick. Ryan Giggs crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance by Givaldinho Hulk.

37:43

Foul by Raniere Sandro on Ryan Giggs, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Giggs.

36:25

Junior Neymar takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele. Corner taken right-footed by Junior Neymar from the right by-line, Ryan Bertrand manages to make a clearance.

34:33 Goal scored

Goal - Junior Neymar - Gt Britain 0 - 2 Brazil Junior Neymar scores a placed penalty. Great Britain 0-2 Brazil.

33:40 Booking

Booking Micah Richards goes into the referee's book.

33:18

Unfair challenge on Givaldinho Hulk by Micah Richards results in a Penalty.

28:27

Centre by Rafael Da Silva, Header from deep inside the area by Da Silva Leandro Damiao goes over the bar.

27:19

Inswinging corner taken by Givaldinho Hulk from the right by-line played to the near post, Danny Rose manages to make a clearance.

26:02

Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Blocked by Raniere Sandro. Ryan Giggs decides to take a short corner.

25:28

Borges Romulo concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Cleverley. James Tomkins takes the free kick.

23:22

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

22:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Micah Richards by Givaldinho Hulk. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

20:24

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Barbosa Rafael.

19:05

Unfair challenge on Craig Bellamy by Raniere Sandro results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Bellamy.

15:56

James Tomkins challenges Junior Neymar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Emiliano Thiago Silva restarts play with the free kick.

13:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Sturridge by Junior Marcelo. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards takes a shot. Emiliano Thiago Silva makes a clearance.

11:51

Junior Neymar provided the assist for the goal.

11:51 Goal scored

Goal - Raniere Sandro - Gt Britain 0 - 1 Brazil Raniere Sandro finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Great Britain 0-1 Brazil.

10:45

Unfair challenge on Emboaba Oscar by Tom Cleverley results in a free kick. The ball is sent over by Junior Neymar,

8:20

The assistant referee flags for offside against Da Silva Leandro Damiao. Free kick taken by Micah Richards.

7:14

Foul by Tom Cleverley on Rafael Da Silva, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Rafael Da Silva.

5:31

Effort from deep inside the area by Junior Neymar misses to the left of the goal.

4:58

Shot by Daniel Sturridge from outside the box goes over the net.

4:21

Junior Neymar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Allen. Free kick taken by James Tomkins.

4:00

Daniel Sturridge delivers the ball, clearance made by Rafael Da Silva.

2:33

Ryan Giggs takes the inswinging corner, Guilherme Juan manages to make a clearance.

1:31

The assistant referee signals for offside against Daniel Sturridge. Barbosa Rafael takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association