PARIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - European champions France made a winning return to home soil with a stylish and highly convincing 5-0 demolition of Slovenia 5-0 in their Euro 2004 Group One qualifier at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Midfielder Patrick Vieira began the rout in the 10th minute before striker Steve Marlet doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Marlet netted again midway through the second half before winger Sylvain Wiltord and substitute Sidney Govou completed the scoring.

France, who had not played at home since their humiliating failure at the World Cup finals, lead Group One with six points after beating Cyprus 2-1 in Nicosia last month.

They meet Malta, who lost 2-0 at home to Israel earlier on Saturday, in Valletta on Wednesday. The French were more than eager to seek forgiveness for their failure in South Korea in May and June.

'It was important for the (team's) confidence to snatch a success of this kind,' French coach Jacques Santini said. 'It proves that what we ignited with the (friendly) match against Tunisia in August is now taking shape.

'The new players and the old ones are getting to know each other and get along together. It's a job you have to do on a day-to-day basis,' he said.

'Obviously, we have taken a great step towards our goal which remains to qualify for the European championship and defend our title. But there is still a long way to go.'

INSPIRATIONAL ZIDANE

Inspired by a Zinedine Zidane back to his very best, the European title holders looked in a class of their own for the first 15 minutes as the Slovenians could hardly do anything but defend.

The Real Madrid playmaker, who scored three goals last week for his club, hit the woodwork after just five minutes before Vieira did a one-two with Arsenal team mate Thierry Henry to open the scoring from close range in the 10th.

The visitors tried to react but the French defence, led by towering captain Marcel Desailly in his 100th international put up an impenetrable barrier

'We had a pretty good start in this match. It was clear that the players were physically and mentally stronger than during their last two outings,' Santini said.

'But that seems normal to me as it's impossible to be really fit in August or in September as the season has barely resumed by then.'

Despite their efforts, Slovenia failed to create a single opportunity to challenge goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, back after missing France's last two outings because of an injury.

At the other end of the pitch his counterpart Marko Simeunovic had no time to get bored, stopping two shots by Zidane before Marlet sneaked the ball inside the base of the near post from a cross by Wiltord in the 34th minute.

Slovenia were on the back foot again from the start of the second half, Simeunovic pulling off several dramatic saves before Marlet put the match beyond them with his second goal in the 63rd minute.

The Fulham striker missed a hat-trick when he hit a fine lob which went wide with the Slovenia keeper beaten in the 76th.

Wiltord, who had one his best performances for France, added a fourth goal after dribbling past three defenders to slot the ball in from close range.

Substitute Govou, who came on for Marlet, headed home a cross by Manchester United defender Mickael Silvestre with just five minutes to go.