This is one that, when it hits, it really hits. The writing is lyrical and shows a deep understanding of the history of the game without lingering too long on any one topic. The book is at its best when looking at issues around the game, such as financial corruption and the spread of televised sports. That said, the structure of the book is pretty stagnant (here's what was happening in the world during this World Cup, here are the top scorers, etc.) and the text lags a little when he gets into describing individual goals from decades ago, which I'm sure were marvelous to watch but run together on the page.

I love beautiful soccer

Soccer in Sun and Shadow is like a love poem to soccer. The author takes a wonder filled overview of the interconnect between soccer and politics, money, corruption and propaganda and also just croons over the super human feats of some of the soccer greats and their historic moments. This book makes soccer into a powerful enchanting part of life.

Had read quite a few excerpts from this book, especially during the World Cup seasons. Galeano's prose can turn even the most mundane into a thing of beauty. So, imagine when he writes about something as beautiful as football. In the form of short notes, similar to his 'Days and Nights of Love and War' (the subject of which is starkly different), the book brings alive the history of the sport and the moments and the people which make it what it is.

Galeano's wonderful commentary on the history of soccer was clearly written by a lover of the game.

Much like an actual soccer match when it's good it's transcendent, but when it's not it's just like... what else is going on? ya know?