Most Chinese are familiar with football from ancient Chinese dynasties through "The Outlaws," one of the Four Classic novels, in which a high-ranking official named Gao Qiu demonstrated his ancient football techniques.

While China is missing from the 32 teams in the current FIFA World Cup in Brazil, there was hope a reincarnated Gao would emerge to rescue the hopeless Chinese football team.

Football must be in China's blood. Though England is home to modern football, China is the birth place of the game, as confirmed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in early 2014.