German captain Birgit Prinz (right) scores her team's eighth goal against Argentina as Argentina's goalkeeper Vanina Correa tries to stop her shot during their Group A match of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament in Shanghai, China, yesterday. Germany won 11-0. - AP

SHANGHAI, China (AP):

Defending champion Ger-many sent a strong message with their record-breaking 11-0 victory over Argentina in yesterday's opener of the women's World Cup.

For the South Americans, it was simply a bad dream.

For the number one-ranked United States, it serves as a warning going intotheir opener set for today against North Korea in Group B. Germany will be tough to beat.

The margin of victory was the largest in the women's World Cup and the goals were the most by a single team.

The previous most lopsided scores in the World Cup were Sweden over Japan in 1991, and Norway over Nigeria in 1995, both by scores of 8-0.

Prinz's stint

"It was a nightmare start for our team," Argentine coach José Carlos Borrello said.

Veteran forwards Birgit Prinz and Sandra Smisek combined for six goals - three each - as the Germans dominated every part of the Group A game over their smaller opponents.

The last was Prinz's 12th overall in the World Cup finals, surpassing the previous German record of 11 by Bettina Wiegmann and equalling American Michelle Akers' record for World Cup goals.

Argentina threatened several times, forcing German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer into action, including one free kick she had to tip over the bar.

Her Argentine counterpart Vanina Correa was not so lucky. On both Germany's first and last goals, Correa knocked the ball into her own net on corner kicks.

"Our goalkeeper was very unlucky. She made two mistakes and it cost us two goals," Borrello said. "Today was a nightmare for her."

The other German goals were scored by forward Kerstin Garefrekes and midfielders Melanie Behringer and Renate Lingor, who opened the scoring in the second half by knocking down a poor clearance at the edge of the area to loop the ball over Correa into the far corner of the net.

The other teams in Group A, Japan and England, play today. Germany play England on Friday, and Neid said "that will be a totally different game".

The 16-team tournament is spread around five cities in China with the final in Shanghai on September 30.