Denmark captain Jon-Dahl Tomasson scored two first-half goals as Denmark gave Australia a lesson in finishing to claim a deserved 3-1 victory in tonight's friendly at Loftus Road.
While the Socceroos huffed and puffed, the Danes were assured - taking the lead in the fourth minute through Tomasson with a clinical finish following some poor Australia defending.
It would be a sign of things to come, as Morten Olsen's side left their Antipodean rivals chasing shadows.
While the Danes were forced to withstand a brief Socceroos fightback after going behind, with John Aloisi spurning a trio of chances, the Scandinavians doubled their advantage when Daniel Jansen headed home after a splendid Dennis Rommedahl cross.
They completed a stunning opening period when Tomasson scored his second of the evening, tapping home into an empty net following a fine move from the Danes.
The Socceroos did grab a late consolation when stand-in captain Brett Emerton curled in a 25-yard free-kick to give the mostly Australian crowd something to cheer about.
Australia coach Graham Arnold was without Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka, who was a late withdrawal after failing to recover from a knock during his team's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on the weekend.
How they would rue too the absence of a player with his finishing touch, from the moment Tomasson proved his class in front of goal.
Socceroos winger Mile Sterjovski was caught in possession, and the Villarreal striker pounced - curling a splendid first-time effort in at the near post past a flat-footed Michael Petkovic.
That early setback sparked the Socceroos into life. But Aloisi spurned three chances to get his side back into the game, the most notable of which forced an uncomfortable clearance from
Michael Gravgaard - before he also had a goal ruled out for offside.
Referee Rob Styles ruled defender Michael Thwaite had fouled his marker after heading past Thomas Sorensen following a Skoko free-kick.
In the 27th minute the Danes made the Socceroos pay for their profligacy when a superb cross from Rommedahl found Jensen who, despite being marked by two defenders, was able to guide his header past Petkovic and double his side's advantage.
The Aussies were starting to be run ragged, and Tomasson's second goal in the 37th minute was something from the training ground - as his side easily passed around the defence to leave him with the easiest of tap-ins.
The Socceroos almost grabbed a goal back immediately after the break when Tim Cahill made room for himself at the top of the penalty area, before picking out Sterjovski who saw his volley cannon back off the crossbar.
On the hour mark, Tomasson was denied his hat-trick by a fine reflex save from Petkovic - low to his left - Emerton tidying up the defensive work with a clearing header after the ball skewed into his path.
The game began to peter out in a flurry of substitutions - but there was time for Emerton to score Australia’s consolation, bending his crisp free-kick in over the wall with five minutes to play.
