Thierry Henry scored one goal and created another and Zinedine Zidane combined brilliantly with David Trezeguet as the European champions outplayed last year's losing World Cup finalists.

France left those finals a broken team, the 1998 winners crashing out in the first round amid rumours of a divided team camp split along age lines.

In surpassing the previous French record of 12 victories set in 1984 by a team featuring Michel Platini, Santini's team showed the progress they have made since the former Lyon coach took over after the World Cup.

"I am very happy for the players, who have made great efforts over the last 15 months, whether it be the new players for the way that have adapted or the older players for assuming their role as leaders after the disappointment that we know all about," said Santini.

"Tonight we made the difference by playing to our strengths. It's what we came here to do to round off 2003 in style.

"But we'll probably have to play six matches like this in Portugal if we want to defend our European title."

The match played in the futuristic Arena AufSchalke also demonstrated that Rudi Voller's German side are in an uncomfortable rebuilding phase ahead of next year's Euro 2004 finals.

"This defeat is going to weigh heavily on our shoulders for the next three months. It hurts," said Voller.

"You have to be honest and say that France are a terrific team. Once they went 2-0 ahead we didn't have a chance."

Arsenal striker Henry opened the scoring with a diving header, then provided the cross for Trezeguet to slot the ball home before the Juventus striker netted his second after Zidane's sublime pass left him with an easy job.

However it was Germany, wearing their new black away strip for the first time, who made the early running.

Kevin Kuranyi and Fredi Bobic both shot wide in the opening exchanges and Henry completely miskicked when well-placed in front of goal.

Just as France seemed to be under intense pressure, they took the lead.

Bixente Lizarazu broke down the left wing and his cross from the byline to the far post was met by Henry with a flying header that Oliver Kahn could only push into his own net.

As the French supporters began to chant "We feel at home", Germany almost reduced the deficit immediately when Jens Jeremies' shot was pushed away by Gregory Coupet, who was preferred in the French goal to Fabien Barthez.

Coupet was called into action twice more in the first half, saving a well-hit free kick from Michael Ballack and coming out best in a one-on-one with Bobic after Lizarazu left his back pass short.

France were constantly threatening though and when Henry stripped the ball from Christian Worns, sped down the left wing and timed his cross perfectly Trezeguet only had to slot his pass under Kahn.

Bernd Schneider wasted a gilt-edged chance for Germany to pull a goal back when he screwed his shot wide.

A match that at times was anything but friendly flared up when Robert Pires was booked for kicking Michael Ballack from behind.

With 20 minutes remaining, Juventus forward Trezeguet showed great skill to shake off his marker but he poked his shot wide of Kahn's goal as the ball ran away from him.

But France did make it 3-0 when Zidane showed again what might have been if he had been fit in South Korea when his brilliant pass split the defence and Trezeguet made no mistake this time.