China down but not out after Cup loss to Japan

BEIJING: China was still sore yesterday after the national soccer team lost a heartbreaking Asian Cup final to Japan the night before, grumbling about controversial calls while soberly sizing up the home squad's efforts. 

“The hand of god pushed China down from the pedestal,” blared a headline in Shanghai's Oriental Morning Post, summing up sentiment after a tide-turning goal by midfielder Koji Nakata in the second half that replays showed to be a handball.