England Women knew the danger of inviting Germany to their Wembley party and the visitors proved to be the ultimate buzzkillers as they eased to a 3-0 victory.
Clinical first-half finishing and haphazard defending undid England, who had begun the match by almost scoring the fastest goal the stadium has ever seen.
Simone Laudehr and Celia Sasic put Germany two goals clear early on, and when Sasic struck her second just before half-time the game had been effectively put to bed.
England manager Mark Sampson, who inherited the team from caretaker boss Brent Hills in December, had pinpointed this match as the gauge by which to judge his team, who despite winning all 10 of their World Cup qualifying games did so against vastly inferior opposition.
A 4-0 win over Sweden in August, in Hartlepool, gave England reason to believe they could also have the measure of Germany. Karen Carney, presented with a golden cap on her 100th appearance, even forecast England might win the World Cup in Canada next summer. But such perceptions were soon shown to be at best questionable.
England supporters almost had a goal to cheer after eight seconds when Jordan Nobbs rattled the crossbar with a chip from 25 yards after Germany had given away possession from the kick-off. Had it dipped just under, it would have been the fastest goal Wembley has ever seen.
However, in the sixth minute, defender Laudehr pinched a yard on marker Alex Scott and glanced Melanie Behringer's left-wing corner inside the far post.
England pushed forward and captain Steph Houghton headed over from Carney's floated pass.
But it was 2-0 to Germany after 12 minutes when England were punished for a defensive lapse. A poor touch from Fara Williams, taking a merely hopeful German ball out of Houghton's path, put Sasic clear down the left. Scott chased back desperately but could not catch Germany's most potent forward, who tucked a left-footed shot beyond Bardsley.
Germany head coach Silvia Neid watched on approvingly from the edge of the technical area, her side showing why they stand second in the FIFA rankings and and are reigning European champions.
Stunned England went into an immediate huddle on the edge of the penalty area before kicking off. The band's drum banged, Wembley saw its first Mexican waves of the day, but Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult was a near spectator.
Schult was so underworked she almost made a sorry mess of a 20-yard Nobbs header, being perilously close to carrying the ball over the line.
An assistant referee's flag rightly denied Germany a third goal, with Melanie Leupolz's header from Behringer's free-kick ruled out for offside.
Yet Sasic had her second goal just before half-time, smartly heading in Tabea Kemme's right-wing cross.
England began the second half purposefully and Lianne Sanderson's low cross from the right just eluded Eni Aluko.
Sampson sent on Fran Kirby, Reading's prolific centre forward, for Aluko after an hour.
Germany were content to absorb the pressure though, and with playmaker Carney not having one of her better games England's strikers were feeding largely off scraps.
Williams, winning her 133rd cap, was replaced by Jill Scott, and Sanderson made way for Jodie Taylor, while Alex Scott and Demi Stokes departed late on to allow Jo Potter and Alex Greenwood run-outs.
Jill Scott hit the side-netting, briefly convincing a few thousand fans that England had found a consolation, but it was not to be. Their World Cup prospects have been put in a fresh context.
Source: PA
