Interim coach Tom Sermanni has lashed the Matildas' display of "un-Australian" defending in a thumping 4-0 defeat to Japan that proved a massive "wake-up call" ahead of next year's home Asian Cup.
Friday's SheBelieves Cup opener in Houston, against Asia's top team, was meant to be an ideal litmus test just over a year out from the tournament. Sermanni fielded a full-strength team, bar the injured Sam Kerr.
Instead, the Matildas' heaviest defeat to Japan should ring alarm bells for Football Australia, which is still to appoint a permanent head coach.
Horror defensive mix-ups allowed Mina Tanaka to score in the fifth and 32nd minutes and leave Australia shell-shocked.
Tanaka turned provider for Maika Hamano in the 52nd minute before Moeka Minami headed home in the 75th to seal a dominant victory for the world No.7.
The Matildas struggled to get Manchester City gun Mary Fowler involved or to keep a foot on the ball.
But most concerning was a lack of connection and poor errors from an experienced defence: Steph Catley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter, and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Carpenter described the game as a "bad performance", while Sermanni pointed out the gulf in class.
"We just didn't get close to Japan, they were just outstanding," Sermanni said.
With AAP.
