Despite the absence of a Chinese team playing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Chinese football fans have been closely monitoring the tournament, even spending billions of yuan betting on their favorite teams online since day one of this year's game.

And now that Germany and Argentina will be facing off in the finals, which team would Chinese fans be cheering for?

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A recent survey conducted by Chinese Internet company Sohu showed that about 60 percent of China's football enthusiasts predict Germany to take home this year's FIFA World Cup trophy. And the prediction is based on recent games.

Germany smashed host Brazil in the semi-finals, scoring 7 goals against the crowd favorite's single goal and Chinese football fans said the German team has what it takes to emerge victors against Argentina in the finals, Sohu added.

Although football has not reached the level of popularity in China as in European and South American countries, Chinese fans have been keenly following every game in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

According to China's General Administration of Sports, Chinese fans have so far spent around 1 trillion yuan, or about US $160 billion, on World Cup related online gambling and betting.

The administration, which regulators sports lottery in China, said that a total of 150 million yuan, or around US $24 million, was spent on football lottery during the first day of the World Cup.

Betting is even expected to soar when Germany meets Argentina in the finals, the administration said in a statement.

World Cup betting in China took a tragic turn when a Chinese university student leaped to death from his school's building when he realized that he could no longer pay the 10,000 yuan he borrowed and lost in online gambling.

In another incident, a female college student in Shanghai made up her own kidnapping story so she can extort 2,000 yuan from her parents. The woman admitted to the police that she intended to use the money to pay for debts she incurred due to online football betting.

TagsWorld Cup Finals, World Cup Brazil Finals, FIFA World Cup Finals