Two-time champion Germany has kicked off its Women’s World Cup campaign in ruthless fashion with a 6-0 hammering of debutant Morocco.

Captain Alexandra Popp notched a first-half double as the European heavyweights laid down a marker with a powerful display in the Group H encounter.

Klara Buhl found the net just 21 seconds into the second half and Moroccan duo Hanane Aït El Haj and Zineb Redouani scored own goals.

The rout was complete when Lea Schüller tapped home from close range in the 90th minute in front of 27,256 fans in Melbourne.

In terms of rankings, Monday night’s clash was just about the biggest mismatch of the group stage – and the lopsided scoreline reflected that fact.

Germany, ranked second only behind USA, put world No.72 Morocco to the sword, but feel there was still plenty of room for improvement as the tournament progressed.

“This match was really important for us and it was great to start this way,” Popp said through a translator.

“It gave us a lot of confidence, we had a good flow and we played calmly, but of course not everything went optimally. That would’ve been too much to ask in the first match.

“But how we played today and how we created opportunities gives us a lot of confidence for the rest of the tournament.”

Popp’s two headed goals mean the 32-year-old forward has scored at six consecutive major international tournaments.

Morocco thought it had pulled one goal back in the 53rd minute to make it 3-1, but Anissa Lahmari’s strike was correctly ruled out for offside.

It would have been the Atlas Lionesses’ first goal at a World Cup.

German substitute Schüller also had a header ruled out for offside in second-half stoppage time.

Morocco coach Reynald Pedros lauded his team’s first-half defensive performance but admitted they conceded some poor goals after the break.

Germany’s third was a dagger as Buhl capitalised on Sarah Kassi’s error, starting the attack that featured a Lina Magull header that bounced off the post and ended with the midfielder’s sweetly hit low strike.

“We came across a team today that was superior to our own,” Pedros said through a translator.

“[It was like] David and Goliath.

“They had something that we didn’t and unfortunately we made mistakes that are unpardonable.

“We came up against a better team … so we were probably going to lose, however, maybe we didn’t need to concede six goals.”

Runner-up at last year’s Euros, where it suffered final heartbreak against England in extra-time, Germany continue its quest for a first World Cup crown since 2007 on Sunday.

It faces Colombia in Sydney, while Morocco takes on South Korea in Adelaide earlier the same day.

-AAP