Thierry Henry and David
Trezeguet ripped Germany to shreds on Saturday as European champions France beat
the previous holders of that crown in some style in a friendly at the AufSchalke
Arena.
Henry scored his side's opener and then set the second up on a plate for
Trezeguet in two lethal counter-attacks.
The third, a magnificent sweeping move also involving Henry, ended with
Trezeguet bagging his second of the night in a scoreline that by no means
flattered the visitors.
Germany, runners-up in last year's World Cup, were always chasing shadows
against a France team that looks under Jacques Santini to have recovered the
world-beating form that briefly deserted them in their disastrous defence of
their 1998 world title in Korea.
The first chance of the match fell to Henry who totally miscued his shot after
Trezeguet headed the ball down to him from a Zinedine Zidane pass - that was but
a taste of what was to come.
At the other end Germany almost got their noses in front when Kevin Kuranyi's
shot came back off the woodwork after he had done well to elude the challenge of
Lilian Thuram.
Henry then forced Oliver Kahn to save his shot at the expense of a corner.
It was an exciting opening and after 13 minutes Fredi Bobic threaded the ball
through to Bernd Schneider whose shot narrowly missed the target.
Germany then won a free-kick when Willy Sagnol fouled his Bayern Munich
team-mate Michael Ballack but the opportunity was spurned by Arne Friedrich.
However, with 20 minutes on the clock France took the lead with a well-worked
goal.
Robert Pires fed the overlapping Bixente Lizarazu who crossed deep and Germany
goalkeeper Oliver Kahn could only paw Henry's header into the net.
Rudi Voller's side hit back immediately and first Gregory Coupet turned a shot
from Jens Jeremies behind for a corner before the goalkeeper then tipped a Frank
Baumann header onto the bar for another corner.
Ballack forced Coupet into another good save from a free-kick which he had
retaken after Olivier Dacourt had been booked for charging down his first
effort.
Confederations Cup holders France were playing some delightful football and
Henry failed to connect properly with his header after a nice move by Pires,
Lizarazu and Zidane.
Next Trezeguet almost got onto the end of a delightful pass from Pires.
The second period started slowly and first Lizarazu and then Kuranyi tried
their luck with speculative shots.
However, in the 55th minute France moved 2-0 ahead with a lightning quick
counter-attack.
Mikael Silvestre played a long ball out of defence towards Henry who eluded
the challenge of Christian Worns to bear down on goal with Trezeguet in
support.
Henry drew Kahn and covering defender Baumann before slipping the ball to
Trezeguet who had the simple task of sliding in the second.
Germany tried to get back in the game and a fine run from Andreas Hinkel saw
him set up Schneider who squandered a good opportunity to reduce arrears.
But Henry made a blunder when he burst clear with Trezeguet and Pires in
support but failed to find either with a tame pass.
Henry was irrepressible form and another fine pass released Trezeguet who
out-foxed Baumann but failed to hit the target.
With nine minutes left France produced a marvellous goal as substitute William
Gallas found Henry with a long ball.
Henry immediately transferred the ball to Zidane who played in Trezeguet who
dispatched the ball past Kahn to make it 3-0.
A late free-kick from Ballack forced Coupet into a save but even a consolation
goal would have not hidden how one-sided this match really was.
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