‘Football in Sun and Shadow’: Book Review and Best Goals
Like all Uruguayan children, I wanted to be a football player. And I played quite well. In fact I was terrific, but only at night when I was asleep.
And with these honest words, Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano takes us on a beautiful journey across the beautiful world of the beautiful game in his book Football in Sun and Shadow. While not having a concrete theme, the book itself is a celebration of football and everything that surrounds it.
Galeano starts with the most basic aspects of the game, like the player, the fan, the stadium, the ball, and describes what they mean in the larger scheme of things. The referee is mentioned as ‘an abominable tyrant who runs his dictatorship without opposition’ to begin with, while towards the end we also realize that ‘He wears bright colors to disguise his distress.’
He then goes into the origin and history of the game, from ‘The English Invasion’ and ‘The Second Discovery of America’ to ‘Football and the Generals’ and ‘The Telecracy’. In between, we also get to read about many of the greatest footballers, goals, teams, and moments across the last 100 years of this game.
My favorite chapters are the ones dedicated to different World Cups. For every edition, he describes the socio-political and cultural environment of the age, alongside the actual tournament, almost taking us back into the world where it was staged. A running joke within these is the frequent use of the line -
‘Well-informed sources in Miami were announcing the imminent fall of Fidel Castro, it was only a matter of hours.’
The honesty of his words spellbinds you, as Galeano talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Considerable thought is given to the harm done by the ultra-commercialization of the game. But the language itself is very romantic and beautiful, almost like poetry. His ideas resonate strongly with the fanatic inside you, making you realize how much this game means to you.
To conclude, if football is something you are indifferent to, this book explains why the rest of the world is captivated by its madness. But if you are indeed a football romantic, reading this feels like an ode to your lover.
I will leave you with some of the best goals Galeano described in his book, for which I could find a youtube link. Although it is highly recommended that you read his thoughts on them first from the book itself.
- Goal by Beckenbauer (West Germany vs Switzerland — 1966 FIFA WC)
Bucking the trend towards a football of sheer panzer-style strength, he proved that elegance can be more powerful than a tank and delicacy more penetrating than a howitzer.
2. Goal by Jairzinho (Brazil vs England - 1970 FIFA WC)
Swaying to the rhythm of a fiesta, Brazil’s attackers had tossed off seven guardians of the steel fortress, which simply melted under the hot breeze blowing from the south.
3. Goal by Gemmill (Scotland vs Netherlands — 1978 FIFA WC)
Scottish player Archie Gemmill got the ball from his countryman Hartford and kindly asked the Dutch to dance to the tune of a lone bagpiper.
4. Goal by Bettega (Italy vs Argentina 1978 FIFA WC)
The play that set up Italy’s goal drew a perfect triangle on the playing field: inside, the Argentine defenders were left as lost as blind men in a shoot-out.
5. Goal by Rincon (Colombia vs West Germany — 1990 FIFA WC)
So Rincon didn't kick the ball, he caressed her. And she slid softly between the goalkeeper’s leg and scored.
6. Goal by Zico (Kashima vs Tohoku - Emperor’s Cup, Japan)
‘Tell me about that goal,’ plead the blind.
