Munich, Germany ? here’s something truly moving about seeing an entire nation come together.

The city of Munich was bathed in black, red and gold on Friday. Germans carried their flag and wore its colors on their faces. They wore Germany hats, T-shirts and leis, and more than a few grown men proudly sported lederhosen.

The Costa Ricans were far outnumbered at the opener against Germany, but equally patriotic. Their small corner of the stadium was a sea of red tinged with blue, and they made enough noise to fill the building.

Scenes like this are what set the World Cup apart. It’s 32 nations – well, 31 and those few Americans who consider this the real football – putting aside whatever ails them and uniting to support their teams. It’s something you don’t see anywhere else, not even at the Olympics, and it’s why the world comes to a stop for a month every four years.

So what does FIFA do to kick off this oh-so-special event? It puts on an opening ceremony that even a two-bit carnival wouldn’t take.

A reggae band. Goat herders cracking whips. Dancers who looked as if they took a wrong turn on their way out of a club in Amsterdam. Faux haystacks, a wagon and cowbells. And a bunch of floating Carmen Mirandas, one complete with a fruit tree on her head.

There’s nothing wrong with a little opening fanfare. And with everything a made-for-TV event these days, these ceremonies are here to stay. But there’s a right way to do them, and whoever planned Friday’s shindig didn’t get the memo.

The parade of former champions, that was classy. Seeing a grinning Pele lead the Brazilians, some of whom bore little resemblance to the fleet-footed players of old, was a moment to remember. So, too, were the cheers and waving flags that greeted Germany’s winners.

Too bad we couldn’t skip everything else and get on with the game.

The World Cup stands on its own as spectacle – in a good way. At least a third of the planet will tune in at some point during the next month. Businesses, politics, even wars come to a stop temporarily to follow matches.

Friday’s opening show made it seem like some minor-league event trying way too hard to get attention. Even Vince McMahon and the WWE folks would have found it tacky.

The drummers and bell ringers in traditional Bavarian dress were supposed to represent the picturesque region around Munich. But the tournament is being played at 12 sites all over Germany, and it’s a unique opportunity for the once-divided nation to show off its strong new self.

German supermodel Claudia Schiffer was trotted out to help Pele carry the World Cup trophy, as if he needed any help.

After a few speeches and some more singing and dancing, it came to a merciful end. The dancers left, the Carmens floated down to earth and the red carpet covering the field was pulled up.

A few minutes later, the German team came onto the field to warm up and fans responded with the loudest cheers of the day.

When it comes to the World Cup, the game really is enough.