The Matildas were mortally wounded in their opening game of Paris 2024, copping two goals in four minutes midway through the second half to condemn them to a brutal 3-0 loss to heavyweights Germany.
World-class striker Jule Brand was the Matildas' tormentor-in-chief, toying with Australia's back four as she weaved her magic in the front third.
And it was Brand who threw the knockout blow in the 68th minute, finishing a superb team goal with a tap-in at the far post.
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Minutes earlier she had squared the ball for a teammate who wasted a golden opportunity to kill the game off, striking firmly into the cover defending Alana Kennedy when a goal looked the only possible result.
The hard truth for the Matildas is they were outfoxed by the Rio 2016 gold medallists from the first whistle, with Tony Gustavsson's game plan to play through the press thwarted by an opponent that set up to allow the Matildas to come forward with the ball before pressing near the halfway line.
More often than not those tactics left the Matildas befuddled and they were unable to thread their way through into the attacking third, with Mary Fowler squeezed for space and virtually ineffective as the German defenders pinched the ball from her whenever she attempted to turn.
That left the Matildas searching for another outlet to goal and too often they relied on the pacy combination of Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso on the right flank, with neither able to find a decisive movement in behind a vigilant back four.
Chasing a goal after conceding from a corner in the 24th minute as Marina Hegering squeezed between Kennedy and Carpenter to head home, the Matildas started to lose their shape as they pressed for the equaliser.
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The Germans were profiting with chances flowing on the break but they were wasteful before doubling their lead through a Lea Schuller header, once again from a corner, in the 64th minute.
Four minutes later it was Brand who capped a stellar night out with a dagger blow for the Matildas, with the 3-0 advantage putting the fourth-placed finishers at the last two major tournaments in serious danger of bombing out in the group stages.
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After the game former Matilda Amy Chapman described the Matildas' performance as "one dimensional", adding that Gustavsson should have gone to his bench earlier.
"It opened up more, particularly for Mary (Fowler) when they made those subs - some good players who were willing to hold the ball up and link in with some of those other players," Chapman said on Nine's broadcast.
"I thought (debutant) Sharn Freier made a difference, came on and ran at players, she's a natural left footer, she's pacy, I think those changes needed to happen earlier on because by then it was 3-0, that's a very steep hill to climb."
Freier in fact came on in the 59th minute, with the Matildas still trailing by a single goal, with the 23-year-old replacing Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler replacing the excellent Katrina Gorry in midfield in a double change - the first Matildas changes for the match.
But it wasn't until the 77th minute, with the Matildas 3-0 down that Gustavsson went back to his bench, introducing predatrory goal scorer Michelle Heyman when the game had already got away from the Aussies.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster was hugely impressed by Germany's performance, tipping them as a team to beat for the gold medal.
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The win for Germany puts them within touching distance of a ticket to the second round, while the Matildas face the daunting prospect of needing a result against the USA when they meet on July 31.
Before that they meet Zambia, with a win the only option if they're to keep their hopes alive.
That result would set up a likely playoff with the new-look American side for second spot in the group, depending on how the Tokyo bronze medallists fare against Germany in their second group game.
The best-performing third-placed finishers also progress from the group but the Matildas' poor start to the tournament could be costly due to their -3 for and against that will be difficult to peg back.
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