球迷的英语

32支世界上最好的球队都在为世界杯金灿灿的奖杯而浴血奋战，但地球上人口最多的国家却并没有参与其中。

中国队还不够资格去参与在巴西举行的这场精彩赛事。事实上，中国的世界杯梦早在2011年就成了一场噩梦，当时其在亚洲区预选赛中失去了进军巴西的资格。

但对这个对足球怀有极大兴趣、人口超过十亿的国家来说，不能组成一支具备竞争力的国家队出现在赛场上是一个让人十分沮丧的消息。

中国队唯一一次踢进世界杯决赛是在2002年。我记得这令人兴奋的一年。国家队在国内受到了英雄般的待遇。球员们都获得了收益丰厚的商业代言和赞助。伴随着洋溢着的民族自豪感而来的是人们对国足日益增加的期望，但这却不利于国足的成长。

而国足的首秀就以尴尬收场，他们在小组赛阶段就已出局，并且一球未进。

尽管如此，这些挫折并没有挫伤中国球迷的热情。
 

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.

Some managers say work place productivity has dropped lately. A few companies have simply conceded defeat, agreeing to a staggered work schedule to allow for some employees to stay in late, and come in late.