France sprint out of the traps

France: 3 - Blanc 16, Henry 65, Wiltord 90

Denmark: 0

Referee: G Benko (Aut)

Booked: Denmark - Schjonberg. Sent off - none.

France are off and running and they are running fast. Courtesy of the fleet feet of Arsenal's Thierry Henry and the even quicker brain of the sublime Zinedine Zidane, France raced into a strong position in Group D with a comprehensive defeat of Denmark in sunny Bruges yesterday.

Ultimately the victory was comfortable, but there had been a French false start. Denmark dominated the first 10 minutes in surprising fashion, and had they scored then, as they should have, it might have made for an alternative match.

The unfortunate Jon Dahl Tomasson was Denmark's chief culprit in the striking department, although the odds are that France would have won anyway. It's just the struggle would have been different.

After Laurent Blanc had given France the lead in the 16th minute, Zidane, in particular, oozed class. Henry added an electric second in the 64th minute, and substitute Sylvain Wiltord ran in a third with seconds to go.

There were some good Danish performances, notably from Michael Schjonberg, but as the Danish manager, Bo Johansson, said: "France are a fantastic team. You can even enjoy watching a player like Zidane, he's so fantastic."

Johansson, however, countered the assertion that his team had been beaten simply by speed. "That's wrong," he said, "don't put too much emphasis on that. Look at their skill."

Johansson earned some credit himself. The game was vibrant and unpredictable from the kick-off mainly because of Denmark's attitude. Given the state of their injuries, Denmark would not have been castigated had they stifled the world champions, initially at least. But they had other ideas.

Within the first four minutes the Danes went straight for the French defensive heart three times. Tomasson, the man who failed fairly spectacularly at Newcastle but who has shown perseverance by rebuilding his reputation and career in Holland with Feyenoord, was given the most inviting opportunity possible to crown his restoration after only two minutes.

With France's defence pushed up adventurously, Tomasson was released behind it by Ebbe Sand's short pass. Tomasson was clear and even had time to compose himself. Nevertheless he still made Fabien Barthez's job straightforward by striking a careful side-foot shot too close to the French goalkeeper.

On his debut for Newcastle, Tomasson had been presented with an almost identical situation and wasted it. He never recovered from that miss on Tyneside, and here was a similar tale.

A few frenetic seconds later and Tomasson was vainly chasing a long ball that Barthez had left his line rashly to collect. Barthez was saved by his defenders then, and a minute later Blanc was called upon to produce a decisive clearing tackle, again from Tomasson.

If the French were shaken, they were right to be. Not only were Blanc and Marcel Desailly perturbed, the brilliant Lilian Thuram was finding Jesper Gronkjaer an irritation. In the 12th minute Barthez had to make another stop, this time from Sand.

The new Manchester United goalkeeper was a busy man. But at the other end, his most famous Old Trafford predecessor was beginning to see some action. With Zidane exerting a growing influence, Nicolas Anelka was sent sprinting away from the Danish back line. Anelka went around Peter Schmeichel but hit the side netting with his shot.

That came direct from Barthez's throwout from Sand's shot. Four minutes later Anelka did better. Again one-on-one with Schmeichel, Anelka got a toe to the ball. The rebound off Schmeichel fell to Blanc who slid the ball into the vacated net.

France settled, but when the second half kicked off it was again Denmark pressing. The first 20 minutes of the half were spent in and around the French area, and when Barthez spilled a free-kick from the squat Stig Tofting, Tomasson might have done more than stumble.

That was Denmark's best moment of this spell, but the telling fact was that France created three during the semi-occupation. Henry wasted the first following a 50-yard pass from Blanc, and Anelka headed the second wide from close range. But when the Danes' latest attempt at an equaliser dissolved France broke away to devastating effect.

Exchanging passes with Zidane, Henry flashed down the left, entered the penalty area and did what Tomasson had not done, delivered a finish. Henry's clipped effort was simple but it left Schmeichel motionless. It was only the 64th minute but it was game over.

Two-nil it should have been, but Wiltord, on for Anelka, added an injurytime third when yards offside. Not one Dane complained though. Yesterday's race was over for them long before that.