Germany opened their Women’s World Cup campaign in Canada with a crushing 10-0 victory over newcomers Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday and now lead Group B ahead of European championship runners-up Norway, 4-0 winners over Thailand.

FC Bayern trio Melanie Behringer, Melanie Leupolz and Leonie Maier started for the Germans, with new Munich signing Sara Däbritz coming on in the second half. Lena Lotzen was an unused substitute.

Däbritz and Behringer on target

Celia Sasic (3, 14, 31) and Anja Mittag (29, 35) confirmed the Europeans’ clear superiority over their outclassed African opponents in a one-sided first half. Mittag completed her hat-trick on 64 minutes, with Simone Laudehr (71), Däbritz (75), Behringer (79) and Alexandra Popp (85) rounding off Germany’s second-highest World Cup finals win. The only concern was an injury to Leupolz on 17 minutes, forcing the midfielder to quit the fray with a groin problem.

Silvia Neid’s team are in action again on Thursday against Norway and Nora Holstad. The Bayern centre-back was taken off at half-time to conserve energy in her side’s easy win over Thailand.

Vivianne Miedema and the Netherlands also got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in their Group A opener. Miedema was subbed off in the closing stages. Mana Iwabuchi and defending champions Japan open their campaign on Tuesday against Switzerland and their FCB duo, captain Caroline Abbé and goal-getter Vanessa Bürki. New Bayern signing Veronica Boquete is set to captain Spain in their tournament opener on Tuesday night.