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, with Sermanni fielding a full-strength team bar the injured Sam Kerr.
Instead, the Matildas' heaviest ever defeat to Japan should ring alarm bells for Football Australia, who are still to appoint a permanent head coach.
