After a shaky start, Roger Lemerre's team showed the qualities which made Les Bleus World Champions two years ago, and a little bit more.

Zinedine Zidane is still in sublime touch in midfield and Laurent Blanc capped another graceful defensive display with the first goal, in the 16th minute.

But it was Henry and Nicolas Anelka who provided the electrifying strike threat which Aime Jacquet's Class of '98 lacked.

Anelka tormented the Danish defence from the kick-off until he was substituted, eight minutes from time, and Henry's breath-taking speed provided menace from the left.

The Arsenal winger-turned-striker claimed the vital second with a solo strike in the 64th minute and sub Sylvain Wiltord completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Denmark were without five players through injury, including the new star of Danish football Martin Jorgensen, who appeared as a second-half sub but wasn't fit to start.

But they came flying out of the blocks and should have taken the lead in the second minute.

Marcel Desailly slipped as he lunged to reach Ebbe Sand's pass to Jon Dahl Tomasson gifting the former Newcastle striker, who had a clear run on goal, but Fabien Barthez raced out to save with his legs.

In the battle of Manchester United keepers past and future, the £7.8million Frenchman looked in good touch. He claimed a high corner and dived low to his right to save from Sand.

But he was thankful for Desailly's presence after colliding with Blanc on the edge of the box.

France started shakily in defence but Anelka was in exhilarating mood up front, preying on the shoulders of Denmark's back-four with an electric change of pace.

The Real Madrid hitman latched onto a pass from Zidane after France's midfield maestro had dispossessed Stig Tofting in Denmark territory.

Rene Henriksen tracked back speedily to thwart Anelka before he could pull the trigger.

The former Arsenal star gave his minders the slip again moments later. He side-stepped Schmeichel but was forced wide and could only cut his shot into the side-netting.

From a third similar opening, however, came Blanc's opener. A well-worked French move carved out a chance for Anelka but Schmeichel was off his line in a flash to save at his feet.

The keeper was helpless as the ball spun kindly to Blanc, who calmly stroked it into the open net.

The world champions settled into a better rhythm after the goal. They slowed the tempo and Zidane was able to conduct operations from midfield.

The Juventus player rifled a shot wide of Schmeichel's left-hand post and released Youri Djorkaeff on the right before half-time, only for the French to be harshly denied by an offside flag against Anelka in the centre.

Denmark rallied briefly after the break, Barthez failed to hold a Tofting free-kick and Bixente Lizarazu cleared, but France's movement in attack was irresistible.

Henry fluffed a one-on-one with Schmeichel and Anelka planted a header wide when he should have done better but the crucial second came in the 64th minute.

With a blistering surge of raw pace, Henry carried the ball down the left wing from the half-way line to the penalty area before checking onto his right foot and clipped the ball beyond Schmeichel into the far corner.