CommBank Matildas forward Sam Kerr said that the performance of the substitutes against Germany was one of the brightest sparks of the match.
Kerr scored in the team's 4-2 defeat against the World No.3 and said that there were plenty of positives to take away.
"We made - I don't know how many subs tonight, and I thought everyone held their own," she said.
"That's a really good positive for us, having a lot of depth within the squad. We created a fair few chances, some good set pieces - we probably should have scored one or two off a set piece. So there's lots of positives to take.
"There's a few players missing that we would like to have in the squad, like to play. But the subs did a really good job, and that's really pleasing as a squad to see people come on. Holly [McNamara] got a goal. Tish [Leticia McKenna] did well. It's really good to see those people come on and help the team make them better."
She assessed the match as a physical one, but one where Australia had plenty of chances.
"The first 20 minutes we probably let them get on top of us a little bit too much, and then I thought we fought our way back in," she said.
"In the second half, the first 15/20 minutes, we probably did enough to be level, or maybe even on top. We hit the crossbar; it was a physical game. They're a great side, and when you play the best teams, they punish you in those moments. It was disappointing to lose, but there were some positive moments."
There was a brief moment of concern in the first half, when she required treatment for an ankle knock - but she was quick to reassure fans that she was okay.
"I came in with a bit of ankle, and it's always the way, you got a sore ankle, and someone steps on it! It's sore, but that's football," she said.
"I always planned to come off around the 60th or 70th minute. So nothing about the ankle with coming off, but it's pretty sore now."
In typical Kerr fashion, she downplayed her goal, which kept Australia in the game late in the first half.
"That's what adrenaline does!" she said.
Attention now turns to the second game of the window against Haiti on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
Next Game
Haiti v CommBank Matildas
Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 / Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Kick-off: 9.00pm CEST (Local) / 6.00am AEDT
Venue: Stade Walter-Luzi, Chambly, France
Broadcast: Paramount+
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