China are through to the last eight of the AFC Asian Cup after a 2-1 group stage win over Uzbekistan in Brisbane on Wednesday.
With two wins from as many attempts, China have already surpassed pre-tournament expectations leading into the 2015 AFC Asian Cup after first-round exits in the two previous editions.
A draw in their final Group B match against North Korea on Sunday would be enough for the Chinese to win their pool and guarantee one of the top four seeds heading into the quarterfinals -- setting up a glamour tie with Group A runners-up and tournament hosts Australia.
So, are China finally ready to take a significant step forwards on the footballing stage and realise their undisputed potential? Or, is this just the latest in a long line of false dawns -- like qualifying for the 2002 World Cup and making the final of the 2004 Asian Cup on home soil?
The short answer is: It is still far too early to say.
If Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei hadn't taken the unusual step of asking 12-year-old ball boy Stephan White which way he should dive when facing a penalty -- which ultimately proved correct as he helped China to an opening 1-0 victory over three-time champions Saudi Arabia -- they could already be preparing to fly home. Wang made the save and, 19 minutes later, the Chinese scored the only goal of the match through Yu Hai.
Had it not been for goalkeeper Wang Dalei's penalty save in the opening group match against Saudi Arabia, things might not have been as rosy for China in the Asian Cup.
They rode their luck again in their second match, trailing 2011 semifinalists Uzbekistan 1-0 at half-time before a stirring fightback led to a 2-1 triumph that sealed their progression into the knockout rounds.
The fact is they are fortunate to have even made it to Australia. Needing a draw in their final Asian Cup qualifying match against Iraq in March, Alain Perrin's side slumped to a 3-1 defeat.
Lebanon, China's rivals for the last qualifying place, then overcame Thailand 5-2. But that result left them one strike short on goal difference as the Chinese scraped in by the barest of margins.
Sometimes all it takes is a slice of luck for a footballing nation to turn their fortunes around. This could be what is unfolding for China. Back-to-back wins have earned them a quarterfinal clash against either Australia or South Korea, when, again, they will be significant underdogs. But they have at least given themselves a chance of showing they can be considered among the Asian football elite.
Coach Alain Perrin was fortunate to take China to the Asian Cup on goal difference in the qualifiers but his team has put up a great show in the tournament.
'This is what we've been waiting for,' former Blackburn Rovers and Socceroos' midfielder Robbie Slater said during commentary for the Asian Cup host broadcaster. 'So many people call them the 'Sleeping Giants', and considering their population, and the popularity of the game in that country, you would have to think it's only a matter of time.'
Yet we have been down this path before. As Asian Cup hosts in 2004, China defeated Indonesia, Qatar, Iraq, Iran (on penalties) before pushing Japan hard in the final. But after that, they failed to qualify for the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups, in addition to their failure in two Asian Cups.
There were also encouraging signs as long ago as 1984, when they also reached the final before losing to Saudi Arabia on penalties. China subsequently finished fourth and third respectively in the 1988 and 1992 editions, but they have never managed to take that final step.
So what has been holding them back? With an estimated population of 1.4 billion, surely they can produce 11 footballers to provide a match for any international team?
But a quick look at the squad in Australia for the Asian Cup underlines their predicament. Not one of them is currently playing outside of China.
- Dasey: China show improvements in Asian Cup under coach Perrin The United Arab Emirates' Omar Abdulrahman and Iran's Sardar Azmoun have emerged as standout performers at this year's tournament, drawing interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs. Their respective countries have nothing like the resources available in China.
But where are the Chinese superstars? There's no doubting the sport's popularity, with English Premier League sides feted in the streets whenever they travel to the nation on pre-season tours.
Investment is being made, notably through big-spending Chinese Super League clubs like Shanghai Shenhua and Guanghzou Evergrande. Premier League stars Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka played for Shenhua. In 2013, Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi helped Evergrande become the first Chinese club to win the AFC Champions League.
But the growth of the domestic competition has been shackled by allegations of corruption, gambling and match-fixing.
What the sport may need is a Yao Ming-type figure. When Yao was taken with the No.1 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, basketball's popularity exploded in China.
23-year-old midfielder Wu Lei is nicknamed 'Chinese Maradona' but has attracted only a smattering of interest from overseas clubs.
At 23 years of age, Wu Lei has been dubbed the 'Chinese Maradona' and has an excellent goalscoring record for club side Shanghai East Asia. But he has attracted only a smattering of interest from overseas and is chances of moving abroad appear slim.
National captain Zheng Zhi had stints with Charlton and Celtic. But at 34 he is nearing the end of his career. He is the lone survivor from China's 2004 Asian Cup squad.
Others like 21-year-olds Li Ang and Liu Bin Bin are in Australia, with Bin Bin's late substitution against Uzbekistan the only game time for either player so far.
But if China could continue on their winning ways to make their third Asian Cup final, it would be a big step forward for the sport's perennial sleeping giants, who have discovered a new lease of life under French coach Perrin.
The Year of the Goat begins next month, less than three weeks after the Asian Cup final on Jan. 31. How Chinese fans would love to usher in the New Year on the Chinese calendar in the knowledge that a breakout tournament in Australia would provide a stepping stone for upcoming World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018.