 Birgit Prinz scored a hat-trick for Germany |
Defending champions Germany began their Women's World Cup campaign in style as they set a new record score for the tournament by crushing Argentina 11-0. Argentina keeper Vanina Correa fumbled in before a Kerstin Garefrekes volley and Melanie Behringer sidefooted home.
Birgit Prinz scored with a header and a shot before half-time, Renate Lingor smashed in, Sandra Smisek tapped in and Prinz's header completed her hat-trick.
Smisek netted with a drive, then a tap-in, before Correa fumbled in again.
It was never a contest as Germany underlined their status as one of the tournament favourites against an Argentina side ranked 29th in the world.
But their ruthless display will have unnerved Germany's Group A rivals England and Japan, who meet on Tuesday.
Argentina began the match eager to erase the memories of losing 6-1 to Germany at the 2003 World Cup.
But from the moment the hapless Correa managed to divert a corner kick into her own net after 11 minutes, it was clear this was going to be a nightmare for the Argentines.
Garefrekes showed good control as she volleyed in on 17 minutes, while Correa allowed Behringer's sidefooted effort from a tight angle to slip by her seven minutes later.
Prinz's emphatic header made the score 4-0 before the half-hour mark and in first-half injury-time she prodded home after being afforded acres of space inside the box.
Remarkably, it could have been worse for Argentina as Sandra Minnert hit a post with a header shortly after the break, although it was a brief respite as Lingor hit a powerful shot home on 51 minutes.
The first of Smisek's goals was easy as she tapped in from two yards after Correa tipped Lingor's free-kick on to a post.
Prinz's second header completed her hat-trick moments later.
Smisek drove in a beauty, then tapped in to match Prinz's individual tally, before the match ended as it began, with another howler from Correa.