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Neymar shines with all four goals as Brazil thrash Japan in friendly

Neymar scored all four goals as Brazil thrashed Japan 4-0 in an international friendly in Singapore.

The Barcelona star got his first in the 17th minute and added three more in the second half to earn new Brazil boss Dunga his fourth successive win since replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari after the World Cup.

Neymar took his total to 40 goals in 58 appearances for his country, and the 22-year-old would have recorded an even bigger haul at Singapore's National Stadium had his early free-kick not cannoned off the bar.

He opened the scoring when Diego Tardelli threaded a ball through and he rounded Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and slotted into the roof of the net.

A similar move saw Neymar add a second in the 48th minute as he got in behind a high Japan backline to pick up Philippe Coutinho's pass and fire past Kawashima.

Neymar almost turned provider in the 77th minute with a cross that Kaka headed against the bar -- but Japan failed to clear the danger and, after Coutinho had picked the ball up and drilled in a shot that Kawashima parried, Neymar side-footed home to complete a third hat trick for his country.

He added a fourth three minutes later when he headed home Robinho's dinked cross from the left.

The man of the match said: "I am so happy that I could achieve this dream. Not in my best national squad dreams did I think of this: I have no words but to thank God.

"Dunga always says that the best way to respect a rival is to do everything to beat them. And we did everything, not only score goals.

"I don't know what my limit is. I only want to help my team-mates in the Selecao -- that's the most important thing."