EVERY winning run comes to an end, but the deflating aspect for Scotland was that the damage they suffered during the first half against Germany on Saturday was largely self-inflicted.

Defensive lapses allowed the hosts to get their European Championship preparations off to an uncomplicated start.

Goals by Lena Goessling, and two inside 60 seconds from striker Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, sank the Scots and ensured an untroubled afternoon for Germany after an evenly matched opening 30 minutes. The Germans will meet Canada on Wednesday and then World Cup holders Japan before heading to Sweden where they will attempt to win a sixth successive European Championship.

One of their star turns is expected to be Celia. Born in Bonn to a father from Cameroon and a French mother, she has now recorded 41 goals in just 78 games for her country. Arsenal defender Jenny Beattie was able to compete physically with the German striker, but Scotland's makeshift defence still found the power and pace of their hosts hard to handle.

The match was always likely to test Scotland's adaptability since both Beattie and her central defensive partner Frankie Brown are full-backs for their clubs, while Leanne Ross and Hayley Lauder, who flanked them on Saturday, are midfielders.

They had proven comfortable enough in their unfamiliar roles to help Scotland on a five-game unbeaten run – which included wins over Italy and the Netherlands – ahead of their visit to the Stadion Essen but the return from injury of Ifeoma Dieke and Rachel Corsie, as well as full-back Rachael Small, will be a welcome boost for World Cup qualifiers in the autumn. However, another Rhonda Jones, first-choice defender, is unlikely to be available.

"We presented Germany with the opportunities to score all three of their goals and that's the most disappointing aspect," said Gemma Fay, the Scotland goalkeeper who won her 158th cap in Essen. "But they are a team which grows in confidence, so it was positive that we prevented them from scoring again in the second half."

Fay was in the Scotland side who were defeated 5-0 by the Germans at McDiarmid Park in 2006. But despite Saturday's defeat the goalkeeper is confident that there is still evidence that her side have made progress since then.

"Germany didn't have nearly as many chances against us as they have in past games," said Fay, who made two fine stops in the second half to deny Anja Mittag and Svenja Huth. "We matched them very well in the first 30 minutes and it's a measure of our improvement that we're disappointed at losing 3-0 and conceding the soft goals."

The home fans' hearts were in their mouths when Beattie left Celia writhing on the turf after a bruising challenge during the first half but her own reaction was far less dramatic. "The crowd weren't too chuffed," she said. "But I went for the ball and I got it."

Both Beattie and her brother, Johnnie, were able to represent their country on the same afternoon, even if Scotland's rugby team were also defeated, by South Africa. "It's the first time we have both played for our country on the same day," said the Scotland defender.

Germany could not afford such whimsy since they have injury worries ahead of the finals in Sweden, with four first-team players already ruled out of the tournament. They will still be favourites to win a championship which they have come to dominate, although they are likely to be pushed hard by France.

"I can't decide between the two of them," said Beattie. "Germany are so direct and powerful, but France are more stylish. Sweden being the hosts will be in with a chance too, but I'm just gutted that we are not there ourselves."