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What: “Soccer in Sun and Shadow,” by Eduardo Galeano (translated by Mark Fried), published by Verso, 228 pages, $22.

It’s all here. Everything you should know about soccer, the world’s game. And just in time for the World Cup.

Galeano puts a South American spin on his book, but that’s to be expected since he lives, writes and watches soccer in his hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay.

That’s a refreshing change from the U.S.-, Mexican- and English-based slants we’re so used to here in Southern California.

Galeano’s book also is constructed differently than many. It’s divided into more than 100 “chapters.” Some are less than 150 words. Each is priceless, however, and keeps the reader turning pages quickly.

Galeano starts by describing the game, the fan, the player, the manager, then progresses to great goals, great games, great players and great World Cups.

The writing itself is different too, not at all what we’re used to when reading about soccer in this country.

Of a spectacular 1957 goal scored while in midair, Galeano writes: “Alfredo Di Stefano, the Argentine star who became a Spaniard, had a habit of scoring goals like that. Any open net was an unforgivable crime meriting immediate punishment and he carried out the sentence by stabbing at it like a mischievous elf.”

It’s not all hero worship either. Galeano puts the games and the people into the context of the times--politically, socially and economically. He writes of racism in Brazil, hooliganism in England and military dictatorships in Argentina.

Like many fanatics of the sport, Galeano cannot view the world without seeing soccer’s place in it.