France on the right path for Germany

French forward Thierry Henry celebrates after scoring during the friendly football match France vs Denmark at the Bollaert stadium in Lens. The mood in the France camp was distinctly upbeat after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over a well-organised Denmark side in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match.

The mood in the France camp was distinctly upbeat after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over a well-organised Denmark side in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match.

"We're on the right path," insisted Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol after goals in either half from Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord downed the Danes at the Felix-Bollaert stadium.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen also had encouraging words for his French counterpart, Raymond Domenech, but with a caveat.

"I think France can go far at the World Cup but they'll have to start passing the ball at a faster pace if they want to reach the quarter-finals."

Djibril Cisse reckoned Wednesday's performance was a step up from the one the Blues put in when beating Mexico 1-0 in front of a hostile crowd at the Stade de France last weekend.

"The verdict is positive, we've come through another game without injury. We played much better in the first half than we did against Mexico. But physically we can still do better, and try to wear down the opposition.

"The reception we got from the crowd here was superb, much better than at the Stade de France."

For defender Mikael Silvestre this outcome indicated the 1998 World Cup winners were coming to the boil at just the right time.

"We improved from Mexico, and phsyically we're close to being 100 percent.

France's midfielder Zinedine Zidane (L) vies with Danemark's defender Michael Silberbauer during the friendly football match France vs Denmark at the Bollaert stadium in Lens. The mood in the France camp was distinctly upbeat after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over a well-organised Denmark side in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match.

"We're confident, it's the little details which are going to make the difference, there's nothing better than international games against decent opponents to judge your performance."

Domenech reckoned his side had coped well with everything Denmark had thrown at them.

"They gave us problems at every level and we responded with intelligence and vision.

"That's what I was hoping to see, that capacity to react.

"Denmark represent the kind of well organised side we're in danger of coming up against at the World Cup.'

The positive take on Wednesday's game from the team was echoed in the French press with L'Equipe, the country's sports daily declaring: "Things have taken a turn for the better.'

France take on China at Saint-Etienne on Saturday in the final stage of their World Cup preparations before their opening match against Switzerland on June 13.