The final scoreline read Germany 3, Scotland 0, but the Tartan Hearts will rue missed chances as they returned to the World Cup after a gap of 24 long years in the sparsely populated Belfius Arena, Wavre, in Belgium.
Ruth Blaikie came within inches of connecting, Sarah Jamieson was denied by the German goalkeeper, Finja Starck, Katherine Holdgate had a shot blocked when she was unmarked at the back post, and Heather McEwan also had a shot saved by the alert stopper.
Two goals in the second quarter and a third late-on did the damage and Scotland’s women now face USA on Monday, a side ranked no 11 in the world, three places above them.
If they produce spells as they did against the world’s No 5 rated side, and goalkeeper, Jess Buchanan, who saved the Scots on several occasions on Saturday, reproduces her form, then they have a chance.
This proved a determined performance after Germany took the game to them in the first, making it difficult for Scotland to work the ball out of defence.
However, the Scots grew into the game and pressed towards the end of the session, but turnovers in critical areas and slack passing in the final 23rd hampered their progress.
Germany started quarter two on the front foot and Linnea Weidemann spun and fired but Scotland’s goalkeeper, Jess Buchanan, padded the ball clear.
Minutes later, Germany then took the lead when they opened up the Scotland defence down the right and Yani Zhong fired the ball into the roof of the net. Time 19min 39sec.
It went to 2-0 when Johanna Hachenberg latched onto the ball in the D. She was at first denied by Buchanan but moved along the by line and away from goal before she turned and fired. The ball was deflected into the roof of the net by Millie Steiger. Time 24min 18sec.
That was a real blow, but Scotland regrouped. Ellie Mackenzie ran at the German rearguard and caused danger as did Olympian Charlotte Watson.
And it was Mackenzie who sent a cross which Blaikie came agonisingly close to connecting.
Jamieson then saw a deflection slip past the post as the Scots grew in confidence in the final quarter, but the Germans struck 58 seconds from time when a penalty corner routine was returned to injector Lynn Krings to firevhome.
VIEWING NOTE: Scotland face USA on Monday (10am) and the match is free-to-view on the BBC Alba iPlayer.
DENIED: Edinburgh lawyer, Sarah Jamieson (white top), was one of several Scots to be denied against Germany in Belgium. Picture Nigel Duncan
