Beyond a comprehensive review of all the action across the 28 matches, which produced a total of 91 goals, the publication includes several informative sections, including a chat with the head coach of the winning side, Shingi Ono of Japan.

 

In the exclusive interview, Ono opened up about the personal beliefs that underpin his coaching philosophy, going beyond his tactical approach to discuss the importance of remaining open to changing his own methods based on the team’s needs, as well as prioritising the emotional wellbeing of players.

 

Under Technical Topics, the AFC’s Technical Observers’ Team shares insights into the many facets that defined the competition, ranging from differences in technical as well as physical maturity among teams, the increasingly influential role of goalkeepers, and an overall improvement in tactical awareness and game understanding.

The publication also highlights an emerging trend of a more varied approach to goalscoring, with as many as 63 different players getting their names on the scoresheet.

 

Meanwhile, the experts shine the spotlight on the innovative festival format of the competition, with the use of adjacent pitches creating a more compact tournament environment.

 

In another interesting segment, the report turns its attention to the refereeing team that oversaw the matches, which, in a historic first, included UEFA officials in the roster as part of ongoing developmental cooperation between the two confederations.

 

Complete with a summary of each team’s performance and a variety of compelling statistics, the publication, available here, serves as an enlightening read not only for technical staff but also for fans of Asian football.