The amateur leagues springing up around China have drawn millions of viewers online, boosted domestic tourism to lesser-known locales and sparked good-natured rivalry between cities.

Chinese people "have long been emotionally prepared to be eliminated (from the World Cup)," one supporter said on Weibo.

"We still don't know what the Japanese goalkeeper looks like after a 90-minute game," said one user on Chinese social media platform Weibo

A Chinese player with Shenhua Shanghai has been handed a six month ban by the Chinese Football Association for stomping on Belgian international Axel Witsel, an action which has already earned him a hefty fine.

Yu Dabao struck in the first half as Marcello Lippi's China stunned South Korea 1-0 to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive on Thursday.