OK, there was a little World Cup sleight of hand going on in ‘98

GENEVA — France soccer great Michel Platini insists “a little trickery” in the 1998 World Cup draw ensured his home country would avoid playing Brazil until the final, which it won in Paris. Not so, according to Sepp Blatter, who, as FIFA’s then CEO-like general secretary, conducted the draw in Marseille in December 1997.

Almost 20 years after France hosted and won the World Cup, the two men who organized it recalled very differently Friday if Les Bleus were helped by a fixed draw to dodge playing defending champion Brazil for as long as possible.

“When we organized the calendar, we did a little trickery,” Platini, who led the French organizing committee for several years, told radio station France Bleu. Platini said it ensured France and Brazil would be in opposite halves of the knockout draw if each won its group.

Indeed, Brazil was top-seeded in Group A — by rights as the 1994 World Cup winner — and France was placed in Group C before the draw. Both did top their groups and advanced to the final, won 3-0 by France.

Blatter, however, explained Friday this was standard FIFA practice before and after 1998 to prepare the draw like this — setting up a potential dream final between host and defending champion.

“This is absolutely normal what has been done,” Blatter told The Associated Press.

“I am very surprised that Platini came out and said this. There was not any ‘magouille’,” said Blatter, citing the French word used by Platini, which can also imply corruption. “There is nothing strange.”