Denmark's Jesper Gronkjaer (left) leaps over France's Didier Deschamps. AP 
 
12일(한국시간) 벨기에의 브뤼에에서 열린 경기에서 프랑스는 전반 16분 로랑 블랑의 선제골과 후반 19분 티에르 앙리의 추가골에 경기종료 직전 터진 윌트르의 쐐기골까지 더해 손쉽게 승리했다. 

강호 네덜란드와 함께 죽음의 조로 불리는 예선 D조에 속한 프랑스는 제일먼저 승점 3을 확보, 8강 고지를 향한 유리한 위치를 선점했다. 
 
주전 대부분이 월드컵 우승멤버들로 짜여진 프랑스는 지단의 완벽한 경기 조율과 바르테즈의 눈부신 선방, 앙리와 아넬카의 화려한 돌파력을 앞세워 초반부터 덴마크를 압도했다. 
 
첫 골은 전반 16분에 터졌다. 대 왼쪽 미드필드진영까지 깊숙히 침투한 수비수 블랑이 앙리에게 패스, 앙리는 한번에 골문을 향해 스루패스를 연결했다. 쇄도하던 아넬카와 덴마크 골키퍼 슈마이켈과 부딪혀 오른쪽으로 흐르던 볼을 어느새 골문앞까지 달려온 블랑이 가볍게 차넣어 선제골을 뽑았다. 
 
전반을 1-0으로 끝낸 프랑스는 후반에도 공세를 늦추지 않았다. 두번째 골은 '프랑스의 희망' 앙리의 발끝에서 터졌다. 하프라인 부근에서 지단의 패스를 이어받은 앙리는 약30m를 돌파한 후 골문 왼쪽에서 세계 최고라는 슈마이켈 골키퍼를 완벽하게 속이며 오른발 슛을 성공시켰다. 상승세를 탄 프랑스는 후반47분 비에라의 오른쪽 돌파에 이은 센터링을 윌토르가 가볍게 차 넣어 대미를 장식했다. 
 
이날 승리로 프랑스는 덴마크와의 역대 전적에서도 5승1무4패로 한발 앞서나갔다. 
 

Veteran defender Laurent Blanc calmed the world champion's early anxieties with a 16th-minute goal but the injury-hit Danes still missed several good chances before the match was killed by the Arsenal forward's brilliant 65th-minute strike. 

World Cup winner Henry -- who only recently broke back into the French team after an 18-month absence -- latched on to a pass from the superb Zidane wide on the left and charged 50 meters before curling the ball past veteran Danish 'keeper Peter Schmeichel. 

In injury time Patrick Vieira broke unmarked down the right and squared the ball for substitute Sylvain Wiltord to score an easy third although the Bordeaux forward had clearly been offside in the buildup. 

"It is a good start but the match was not easy because the Danes were very tough. We needed to be very strong mentally to go through," said French coach Roger Lemerre. "Even if we are world champions we have to begin again here." 

France, which beat Denmark on the way to winning the European crown in 1984, had a shaky start but, as the match wore on, was able to rely on its classy defense. 

Danish fans at the compact 30,000 Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges could have seen the 1992 European champion go ahead as early as the second minute. Jon Dahl Tomasson was sent clean through after a Marcel Desailly slip but with only Fabien Barthez to beat could only look on in despair as the shaven-headed goalkeeper kicked away his shot. 

"That could have changed the game," Schmeichel said. "I thought 3-0 didn't reflect the play. We were not played off the pitch." 

"I thought we controlled the game for some time, but we have a lot of work to do this week," the Sporting Lisbon and former Manchester United goalkeeper said. 

Early on, France's normally solid defense looked in disarray against Denmark's direct approach play. 

A poor headed clearance by Lilan Thuram in the 12th minute presented Ebbe Sand with a good chance from 15 meters but the Schalke striker was thwarted by Barthez. 

At the other end, Nicolas Anelka spurned a great 12th-minute opportunity, collecting an intelligent Zidane pass but shooting wide of an empty net after rounding Schmeichel. 

But France soon broke through. 

Inter Milan defender Blanc started off a slick four-man which sent Anelka clear through the center. In panic, Schmeichel came rushing out at the striker's fee but failed to hold the ball and Blanc, making an intelligent run down the inside right channel, slid the ball into the open net. 

It was the 16th goal for France from he 34-year-old, who plans to retire from international soccer after Euro 2000. 

The goal steadied the world champion but Denmark's midfield showed superb workrate, with Stig Tofting battling to thwart the supply line to Zidane. 

Eight minutes into the second half, Barthez could only parry a long range Tofting free kick. The ball fell kindly to Morten Bisgaard, but the Udinese midfielder hesitated in the six-yard area. 

Henry and Anelka had never played together for France before this month but began to cause problems for the Danes on the counterattack. 

And, with Zidane on the field, danger was always lurking. 

In the 57th minute, the Juventus playmaker sent Henry through and the Arsenal forward tried a fancy lob when a booming drive was a more obvious option. 

Denmark poured forward but missed the experience of defenders Jes Hoegh and Thomas Helveg, both injured, and the speed of winger Martin Joergensen, whose groin strain allowed him to make a only a brief appearance as a substitute. 

"It is too early to say whether we can repeat the success of the World Cup but this is a fantastic team when you have Zidane and Henry up front," Vieira said.