The Matildas have had a punishing start to their Olympics campaign, going down 3-0 to powerhouse Germany in a stiflingly hot and dispiriting match in the south of France.

The Australians, who are chasing their first Olympic medal, were demolished by the world No.4 team in Marseille early on Friday (AEST), on the eve of the Games opening ceremony in Paris.

In a chastening start to their Olympic dream, the World Cup semi-finalists were simply not allowed to find their stride against the accomplished former champions.

The bruising setback leaves coach Tony Gustavsson’s side immediately on the back foot in a tough group B, which also features a powerful US side.

It means they must win their next match against Zambia in Nice on Sunday – and they will need to improve drastically.

The Matildas barely created a worthwhile chance, any decent approach work being scuppered by poor build-up delivery.

In contrast, the Germans were decisive winners with two headed goals for Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller from corners, before an electric Jule Brand fittingly wrapped up the most comprehensive of victories.

The Australians, who’d suffered a blow beforehand with injury forcing Tameka Yallop out of the squad, were quickly alerted to the danger of the excellent Brand, who got her shot away in the fourth minute after Kyra Cooney-Cross was robbed in midfield.

Soon after, a terrific quick ball delivered by German goalie Ann-Katrin Berger again found Brand, who cut inside Katrina Gorry and should have scored, only to fire high and not very handsome.

The Matildas contributed to a lively opening quarter but their high line left them vulnerable on the counter, with Cortnee Vine needing to make a key interception to stop Giulia Gwinn volleying the Germans ahead.

There felt an inevitability, though, about the 24th-minute opener as Gwinn’s pinpoint corner to the back post was met by a superbly timed downward header by Hegering, who had bullied her way through Ellie Carpenter.

Mary Fowler, who had an ineffective night up front, nearly responded immediately afterwards, but was dispossessed when she turned to fire in the box. The Tillies also had a couple of speculative efforts through Caitlin Foord.

The Germans could have gone further ahead before the break only for Sjoeke Nusken to be stopped by a fine intervention from captain Steph Catley, who had won her battle for fitness.

Riding its luck, Australia’s defence was again broken down at the start of the second half when Clare Hunt got caught in possession by Brand. She freed Alex Popp, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Alanna Kennedy.

The Australians were undone again from a Gwinn corner in the 64th minute, when Schueller was left unmarked to head home from six metres out.

Brand was then rewarded for her brilliance by tapping home four minutes later after a fine team move, starting from goalie Berger, shredded the green-and-gold defence.

The Germans had a fourth scrambled goal disallowed soon after for offside and threatened to inflict even more damage with the Tillies, who pushed in vain for a consolation after bringing on Michelle Heyman, surviving an even worse fate.

Australia’s midfielder Katrina Gorry locked with Germany’s midfielder Sjoeke Nuesken. Photo: Getty

Getting a strong start is crucial in a unique 12-team tournament where eight teams reach the knockouts.

There are three groups of four teams. Only the group winners, runners up and two best third-place finishers will make the knockouts.

Australia will next face Zambia and the US, three and six days later respectively.

Two-time Women’s World Cup winner Germany won Olympic gold in 2016 – when it drew 2-2 with Australia in the group stage – after three consecutive bronze medals.

The last time Australia played Germany, in Tony Gustavsson’s coaching debut with the team, and its first match since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a disjointed Matildas suffered a 5-2 defeat.

But since then the Germans made a Women’s World Cup group stage exit and have had mixed performances in Euro 2025 qualifying.

Germany lost 3-0 to Iceland earlier this month before thrashing Austria 4-0 in a telling response.

-with AAP