(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-21 11:45

Beijing - Hosts China were drawn alongside Brazil in the men's Olympic football tournament on Sunday but avoided defending champions Argentina and European powerhouse Italy.

Also in Group C with China are former champions Belgium and Nigeria.

Argentina will be pleased with the way the draw here panned out for them, pitted in Group A with Olympic newcomers Ivory Coast, surprise European qualifiers Serbia, and Australia's Olyroos.

Group B comprises three-time bronze-medallists the Netherlands, the United States, Nigeria, and Asian stalwarts Japan, while Italy take on South Korea, Cameroon, and Honduras.

The top two in each group progress to the quarter-finals of the Aug 6-23 tournament that will be played in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.

The women's competition, which features full-strength international squads, will be the biggest in history following a two-team increase to the field.

Brazil became the final qualifier when they beat Ghana 5-1 in a play-off match at Beijing's Workers' Stadium on Saturday.

The teams were split into three pools, with the top two teams in each and the top two third-placed teams moving to the knockout rounds.

China, a World Cup quarter-finalist last year, take on Canada, Argentina, and Sweden in Group A.

World Cup winners Germany will meet the team they beat to lift the Cup last year, Brazil, in their group, with North Korea and Nigeria making up the numbers.

Group C sees former Olympic champions and one of the favourites in Beijing, Norway, up against defending champions United States, Japan and New Zealand.