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Could the 16-year drought finally be over?
That's the question German fans will be asking after a ruthless 6-0 victory over Morocco in Naarm at Melbourne's Rectangular Stadium.
Ranked number two in the world, Germany have long been near the pinnacle of women's football.
But despite boasting a side stacked full of world class talent, it has been 16 years since they lifted the most important trophy of them all, after they successfully defended their World Cup crown with victory in China in 2007.
In France in 2019, they failed to make it past the quarter-finals, while at the record-breaking Euros in 2022, they lost gallantly to England at a sold-out Wembley.
Both were seen as unacceptable results for an outfit capable of much more, and who seem determined to go one better in Australia and New Zealand.
On Monday night, they were eased into the tournament, facing a nation ranked just 72 in the world.
Up against Germany's famed high press, tournament debutants Morocco ultimately had no answer for the class of their European opponents, despite a gallant first half.
Scoring twice was likely suspect Alex Popp, whose individual success mirrors her side's.
The German captain has won Champions League and Bundesliga titles to go with Olympic gold, but the success she most craves at the Women's World Cup has continued to elude her.
Popp has now scored at six consecutive major tournaments, shoring up her reputation for performing under pressure, with two headers against Morocco taking her to outright fourth on the German all-time scoring list.
If not for the official ruling of a Moroccan own goal, the player of the match would have had a deserved hat-trick.
Popp was a frustrated spectator as her side fell to England at the Euros, and the 32-year-old will be desperate to stay healthy and see this campaign through.
The 6-0 result marked one of the most one-sided matches of the World Cup to date, alongside Japan's 5-0 dismantling of another tournament debutant in Zambia.
Equally pleasing for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side was the contrast between their performance and that of similarly ranked hopefuls, including France (who could manage only a goalless draw against Jamaica) and Olympic gold medallists Canada (who also drew with the much lower ranked Nigeria).
Perhaps with the exception of a six-minute patch in which Spain put on three goals against Costa Rica, this was as clinical and unrelenting a display as the tournament has seen.
Frighteningly, it was done without the use of either rising star Lena Oberdorf, or defender Marina Hegering, both guaranteed starters who are coming off injury clouds.
A greater test awaits Germany against Colombia (ranked 25) next week, but early signs more than justify the hype behind Voss-Tecklenburg's side.
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