For Chinese men proud of international sports stars like Yao Ming in basketball and the hurdler Liu Xiang, the soccer team endures as the ultimate symbol of humiliation.

• 如果说像篮球队的姚明和跨栏的刘翔这样的国际体育明星是中国人的骄傲，那么中国男足真是中国耻辱的最终标志了。