DAVE ZIRIN'S TRYING TOO HARD: Here and here. Mixing your politics with your sports is fine, but don't pretend the continent of Africa needs a Ghana win, or there's going to be rallying around the concept of mythical African unity. It's good for Ghana! And African soccer clearly needs some respectability. But that's as far as it goes, really.

Also enjoyed this from Dan Drezner. Honestly, we're better off not tying national pride to soccer. We already do that with basketball--one sport is enough.