Background: Technical–tactical analysis has become central to understanding performance mechanisms in elite football, yet limited evidence exists for how advanced tactical behaviors manifest at the youth-international level. This study conducts a multidimensional analysis of the FIFA U-17 World Cup match between Japan and Morocco to identify performance determinants associated with match success. Methods: High-resolution event-level and positional data (>400 variables) were extracted from the official FIFA post-match technical report. Indicators were grouped into five analytical dimensions: attacking actions, possession structure, defensive and pressing behaviors, movement and spatial variables, and physical outputs. Descriptive comparisons, passing-network modelling, spatial-structural evaluation, and integrated tactical interpretation were used to characterize team performance. Results: Japan demonstrated markedly superior attacking efficiency, producing more shots, more final-third receptions, and significantly higher line-break completion despite fewer attempts. Passing-network analysis revealed compact and stable circulation structures centered on recurrent defender–midfielder connections, contrasting with Morocco’s fragmented, goalkeeper-dependent network. Japan’s defensive model was characterized by shorter team length, tighter horizontal compactness, more effective direct pressures, and faster ball-recovery time (13.03 s vs 16.11 s). Goalkeeping outcomes further reflected team-level stability, with Japan achieving a 100% save rate compared with Morocco’s 67%. Physical-performance data showed Japan generated greater high-intensity running and more evenly distributed sprint actions, consistent with coordinated pressing and dynamic support play. Conclusion: Match success at the elite U-17 level was determined by the integration of structurally coherent tactical behaviors—particularly line-breaking precision, compact passing-network organization, synchronized pressing, and coordinated high-intensity movement. Japan’s cohesive game model produced sustained positional, temporal, and spatial advantages across match phases. These findings underscore the importance of collective structures rather than isolated technical or physical outputs in youth-elite football performance.
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