Not yet happy days for national soccer
The Chinese men's soccer team, in one word, has been a shame for the past decade. The team's disgraceful performance and the scandal-ridden Chinese Football Association, the national governing body of the sport, have been a source of despair for the country's soccer fans.
The predicament of the Chinese men's soccer team over the past more than a decade prompted even the London-based Economist magazine to highlight in December the roller-coaster ride Chinese football has experienced as it has plummeted down its world rankings from 1993 to 2014.
But after the Chinese men's team emerged as the dark horse in the Asian Cup in Australia, many soccer fans have started seeing the proverbial ray of hope. The team, consisting entirely of homegrown players, swept into the quarterfinals after winning all its three qualifying games. On its way, it beat three-time champions Saudi Arabia and the highly rated Uzbekistan.