With the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ set to kick off in France in less than 200 days, the report’s key conclusions focus on the improvements in goalkeeping and defensive organisation since the launch of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2002.

This year’s showpiece was one with the fewest goals scored (89) as compared to 113 goals at the previous edition in Papua New Guinea in 2016. With a tournament average of 12.9 shots on goal per team in a game, champions Japan excelled with 7.5 shots on goal, second only to the United States.

As Young Nadeshiko captain, Minami, 19, had the responsibility of kicking off the celebrations at Stade de la Rabine and the star defender was only too happy to do the honours after being handed the trophy by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"We were able to win; I am really happy. It was a long time coming," she said. "The moment I put up the cup, I was most happy in my life."

While Japan, undoubtedly, played their best football in the 3-1 win over Spain in Friday's final, their journey to the final had several key moments.

Hayashi's howitzer

Japan 1-0 United States: Group C, Matchday One

In a match which many fans expected to produce Group C's two quarter-finalists, the Young Nadeshiko claimed three crucial points thanks to a spectacular moment on invention from Honoka Hayashi.

The Cerezo Osaka midfielder saw US goalkeeper Laurel Ivory off her line and rattled in a magnificent 35-yard effort from which the three-time champions never really recovered, with a 2-2 draw against Spain a week later sealing their group stage elimination.

The 3-1 win over Spain in the final on Friday was remarkable as the European champions had defeated Japan 1-0 in the group stage and looked to have a slight edge going into the final.

Head coach Futoshi Ikeda had set his team a target of making the final but the Young Nadeshiko went one better to create history.

Join the-AFC.com as we relive Japan's historic victory at Stade de la Rabine.

Images: FIFA via Getty Images

Futosh Ikeda's side withstood an early surge, but goals to Hinata Miyazawa, Saori Takarda and Fuka Nagano gave them a 3-0 lead from which Spain were unable to recover, despite Candela Andujar's goal.

The historic win makes Japan the first country to complete the trifecta of Women's World Cups at senior, U-20 and U-17 levels, and the first new name of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup trophy since DPR Korea in 2006.

Four wins in five matches have the Young Nadeshiko potentially 90 minutes away from glory, with highly-impressive knockout stage victories over Germany and England securing their place in the decider.

If the Asian champions lift the trophy at Stade de la Rabine, they will become the first nation to have won FIFA Women's World Cups at U-17, U-20 and senior level.

Five of the current U-20 squad were among the side that became U-17 champions in Costa Rica four years ago, while the senior women's national team's 'golden generation' famously lifted the Women's World Cup in Germany in 2011.

FRANCE v DPR KOREA
Stade Guy Piriou, Concarneau
Thursday, 19.30 (local time)