Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics

The Olympic Games will officially begin Friday, but in an effort to get everything finished on time, the football/soccer events needed to start ahead of schedule.

The hosts, Brazil under the most pressure -- five-time world champions in the men's game, they have never won the Olympic title, and in effort to boost their chances, have summoned Barcelona star Neymar to this squad. He would try and lead the team to victory in their opener against South Africa.

Most teams use the Olympics as an under-23, but usually they add one or two overage players -- the Barca man -- is 24. He proudly sported the captain's armband for his side.

The Barcelona star had Brazil's best two efforts of the first-half. With strikes from outside the box that forced the South African keeper into two stunning saves.

The game would remain scoreless at the break thanks to the South African netminder.

South Africa dominated the early stages of the second-half with Lebo Mothiba and captain Keagen Dolly coming close.

But their chances appeared to have gone when defender Mothobi Mvala was sent off for two quickfire yellow cards.

Brazil ramped up the pressure. Their best chance came in 69th minute when Manchester City's new signing Gabriel Jesus somehow turned the ball onto the post with the goal gaping. Unbelievable miss, as the game finishes in a scoreless draw.

After the game, the players used their crayons to make this board to show the standings of the group. There is now in a four-way tie on one point after Iraq and Denmark also played to a scoreless draw.

Hosts fail to impress in lackluster effort