Germany know that swift improvement is needed for Tuesday's match against Iceland after a rocky start into women's Euro 2025 qualifying in Austria.
The record eight-time champions were two goals down in Linz after 16 minutes but a brace from Klara Bühl and a controversial penalty converted by captain Guilia Gwinn saw them start the campaign with a 3-2 victory on Friday.
"The girls know that it wasn't exactly brilliant. We have to play better," interim coach Horst Hrubesch said.
"We always have to give 100%, otherwise we get into trouble. On the other hand, you have to say that we came back today, that's also a quality. Austria were no pushover, and Iceland won't be either."
Germany were far from the form that saw them clinch a place at the Paris Olympics with a 2-0 win in the Netherlands five weeks ago as started as slow as in their Nations League semi-final defeat against France.
"We made life difficult for ourselves. The first 30 minutes were erratic," Bühl conceded. We have to question ourselves. We weren't on top of our game. That shouldn't happen at this level in the European championship qualifiers."
Gwinn added that "we were all aware that we had to wake up. We showed our true colours in the last 15 minutes of the first half and in the second half."
Iceland, who won their opener 3-0 against Poland, are next up on Tuesday in Aachen. Germany beat Iceland twice in last year's Nations League group stage. The top two sides from each League A group advance directly to the 2025 Euros in Switzerland.
"We have to do what we are capable of, be alert from the first minute and control the game," Hrubesch urged.
