France kick off Euro 2016 qualifying with comfortable win

The French, who won their third European title in Denmark in January, proved why they will be favourites to claim a fourth crown when the tournament heads to Poland in just over a year's time with a dominant performance in Chambéry.

Victory for France sees them top the fledgling Group 6 table, along with FYR Macedonia, on two points, ahead of a trip to Switzerland for their second game on Sunday. Macedonia meet the Czech Republic next.

Such was their confidence heading into Thursday's clash, France opted to blood several new players, including Luka Karabatic and Alix Nyokas.

Inexperience was never a factor and the home side were up 9-6 after the opening quarter of an hour and they went in at the half-time break holding an eight-goal advantage, 20-12.

The second half was a similar story as the Czechs, deprived of proven scorer Filip Jicha due to an ankle injury, had no answer to the French onslaught.

There was no way back for the visitors as the French hit 30 and then 40. Nikola Karabatic and Guillaume Joli top scored for France with six goals apiece, while Petr Linhart had eight for the Czechs.

Fellow heavyweights Denmark also eased to an opening victory, a 31-21 win over Lithuania in Brondby.

The Danes, who were beaten by France in the Euro 2014 final at the turn of the year, launched their campaign to qualify for Poland with the minimum of fuss against a nation that is still yet to make it to a major tournament.

Denmark flew out of the blocks, taking an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Anders Eggert and with an eight-goal lead by half-time, the writing was already on the wall.

Lithuania were game opponents and reduced the deficit to five in the 41st minute, but that was as close as they got as the 2013 World Championship finalists went on to seal victory.

Mikkel Hansen top-scored for the hosts with seven goals, while Valdas Drabavicius had five for Lithuania.

Denmark top Group 2 after the first round of fixtures, after Belarus and Bosnia-Herzegovina drew a day earlier.