This Friday, the world's biggest sporting event gets underway in Germany -- "biggest," that is, if you live anywhere but the United States.

When it comes to ranking sporting events, some would argue the Olympics is the biggest event. Others might vote for the Super Bowl or the World Series, but most of the rest of the world considers the quadrennial World Cup to be the most important and exciting athletic event on the planet.

Me? I'll take March Madness, but I'm probably going to get outvoted in Europe.

Despite its worldwide popularity -- and we've all heard this one before -- soccer isn't that fashionable, relatively speaking, in the United States. But it's becoming more prevalent, from youth leagues to local club teams like Milwaukee Wave United to the expansion of Major League Soccer. But the beautiful game hasn't swept up Milwaukee in its web just yet, at least to my Brewers-, Bucks-, Badgers- and Packers-addled mind.

For the soccer nuts among OnMilwaukee.com's readership, the following World Cup primer may not be that useful. But hopefully it'll act as a guide for any would-be soccer geeks out there, or at least appease bitter Brewers fans looking for a June diversion.

Details: Germany is hosting World Cup 2006 after Japan and South Korea acted as joint hosts in 2002. Matches begin this Friday, June 9 and the championship will take place Sunday, July 9. The United States opens play Monday, June 12.

Format: 32 teams, eight groups, four teams per group. Each team plays the other three in its group (the draw was determined in December) for the right to advance to the "knockout stage," where it's one-and-done. The top two teams from each group advance to knockout play based on total points (three for a win, one for a tie). Tiebreakers for group play, in order, are: highest goal difference, most goals for, result of group match between the teams and "drawing of lots." Knockout matchups are predetermined based on group results.

American Group: The United States is in Group E along with Italy, the Czech Republic and Ghana. Even though FIFA ranks the U.S. 5th and Italy 12th in the world, the Italians, aka Azzurri, are favored by many to win Group E. The Czechs (ranked 2nd by FIFA) are also predicted to advance. Ghana is one of several burgeoning African squads gaining attention on the world stage, but it should bring up the rear.

American Schedule: The U.S. opens with the Czechs on June 12 (Monday) at 11 a.m. CDT, followed by the Italians on June 17 (Saturday) at 2 p.m. and Ghana on June 22 (Thursday) at 9 a.m. If it advances, the U.S. will play June 26 or 27 against a Group F opponent (Brazil, Croatia, Japan or Australia).

American Players: Midfielder Claudio Reyna is making his fourth World Cup appearance and is in many ways the face of U.S. soccer. He is nursing a strained hamstring but should play. Young stars DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan will do most of the attacking for the Americans (Donovan had a memorable goal in the team's upset win over Mexico in the '02 knockout stage, the only knockout win ever for the Americans), along with veteran Brian McBride, who plays with Fulham in the English Premier League. Defender Oguchi Onyewu is a developing star on the backline. And like Reyna, this is the fourth Cup appearance for veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Group E Opponents: It will be difficult for the U.S. to advance beyond group play, but the Americans may catch a break with a couple of key injuries for Italy and the Czech Republic. Italian striker Francesco Totti is recovering from a broken ankle and may be at less than full strength. He may be the best player on a team expected to challenge for the title every four years. For the Czechs, veteran striker Jan Koller had been shelved following knee surgery, but he scored twice in a tune-up match Saturday and should be ready. Koller is a veritable giant at 6 feet 8 inches.

Italy has been somewhat sluggish in tune-up play, but it opens with Ghana before meeting the U.S., a favorable schedule for the World Cup veterans. Watch out for goal scoring machine Luca Toni. The Czechs boast 6-foot 5-inch goalie Petr Cech, who plays for Chelsea in the EPL, one of the best defensive club teams on the planet. The Czechs play a free-flowing style that contrasts with Italy's more conservative, defensive mindset. Ghana's first World Cup run may seem like accomplishment enough for the African nation, but the Black Stars have looked sharp in tune-up play, including a 3-1 win over 2002 semifinalist South Korea last weekend.

Cup Favorites: In Group A, host Germany is practically guaranteed to advance. Like France in 1998, the Germans hope to turn home-pitch advantage into a Cup title. England leads Group B but will be missing young star Wayne Rooney, who is out with a broken foot. He may be available for knockout play if England gets there. Sweden is also expected to advance from B. Group C, aka "The Group of Death," boasts star-laden Argentina, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro. Mexico and Portugal lead Group D with axis-of-evilers Iran lurking in the background. Tourney favorite and defending champion Brazil reigns over Group F, while continental regulars France and Spain are favored in Groups G and H, respectively. If the Americans finish second in group play, they'll face the winner of Group F in knockout play -- in all likelihood Brazil, the consensus best team in the world.

Plotlines: For the Americans, there are a couple: Donovan began his professional career in Germany before returning to play in the States, which is generally considered a bad career move. He may have additional motivation to succeed. Can young Americans Beasley, Oguchi and forward Eddie Johnson produce on soccer's grandest stage? And whenever Americans are abroad, there are always questions and stories about security.

Internationally, watch for group flops among the traditional European powers. It would be a very big deal in their respective countries if England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain failed to make the knockout stage (by comparison, imagine the Yankees not only missing the playoffs, but failing to finish .500). Can Brazil earn its second consecutive and sixth overall title? And how many Brazilians go by some variant of Ronaldo? (Answer: two, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho -- but it feels like more for some reason). And, finally, will Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad somehow manage to enrich uranium while attending one of his nation's group matches?