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Thirty-two of the world's best football teams are now competing for the iconic golden World Cup trophy -- but the planet's most populous nation is not among them. Team China failed to qualify for the "beautiful game's" showpiece event in Brazil. In fact China's World Cup dream turned into a nightmare as early as 2011, when it was eliminated in a regional qualifying round. But for all the interest in football in this country of more than one billion people, it is a huge source of frustration that they can't field a competitive national team. China reached the finals only once back in 2002. I remember that heady year. There was a heroes' welcome for the national team, many of whom became icons with fat commercial endorsements. There was deleterious display of national pride accompanied by soaring expectations for Team China. But their debut turned out to be an embarrassing dud: they were knocked out after the group stage without scoring a single goal. Still, these setbacks have not deflated the football fever here. Chinese football fans have been enjoying the action in Brazil despite matches taking place after midnight, Beijing time. By hook or by crook, local fans are finding ways to stay up late for the games. Some took paid leave, others found excuses to stay home, such as getting doctors to sign sick-leave certificates. A man asked to take the day off ostensibly to attend a teacher-parent conference. | 
