World notes: United States picks a winner, Blatter wins FIFA presidency.

(Monday, June 8, 1998) -- The United States got the man it preferred, and supported, when FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter, 62, was elected president of the world soccer governing body today, defeating European president Lennart Johansson.

He led 111-80 after the first ballot, 17 votes shy of the two-thirds needed to win. With the second ballot requiring only a simple majority, Johansson conceded.

Blatter is a big fan of the United States and may be helpful in getting the World Cup to return sooner than expected -- 2010 or 2014. He also may be helpful in attempts to get United States Soccer Federation outgoing president Alan Rothenberg named to the FIFA Executive Committee.

"Europe is currently the most important element of international soccer, but in the future the rest of the world will become more important and Blatter reflects that view," Rothenberg told the Associated Press.

He was chairman of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, which drew a record 3.5 million attendance.

Blatter, general secretary of FIFA for more than 17 years, capped a whirlwind 2-1/2 months by beating Johansson, the Swede who was unchallenged until he entered the race March 31. The contest was expensive and nasty, costing more than $1 million and filling the air with mud.

It got very personal, and a bitter Johansson indicated afterward he was not going away happily or quietly. "I'm loyal to the president, but I'm not going to obey everything he says," he said. "There may have been a few fouls, but we never tackled from behind," Blatter said. "Now we need to think of what is fair."

Blatter carried the support of Joao Havelange, the 82-year-old Brazilian who is retiring this summer after six four-year presidential terms. He appeared to win by holding onto his voting blocs in Asia and the Americas and cutting deeply into Johansson's supposed strongholds of Africa and Europe.

Johansson's strategy had been to round up the support of continent-wide soccer groups, but they don't vote. In a globe-girdling campaign swing, Blatter schmoozed the people who hold the ballots, the leaders of national federations. He virtually promised that the 2006 World Cup would be staged in Africa.

Johansson, meanwhile, supported Germany for the 2006 tournament

Germany used 17 players -- but not versatile defender Thomas Helmer -- in a 2-1 victory against a selection of young French second-division players. He is hobbled with a right thigh injury. "It's a real, real shame for Thomas," Coach Berti Vogts said, noting he was bothered by a different thigh injury last week. "He was coming back very well after his original injury, especially mentally, and I hope he doesn't get down again now."

Masami Ihara is uncertain for Japan's opening match June 14 in the World Cup against Argentina. The star defender, 30, hurt his right knee in training last week, and Monday he ran and kicked the ball lightly with teammates for 15 minutes.

He did not play in Japan's two warmup matches, a 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia and a 1-0 victory against Gueugnon of the French second division. "If I decide at the last minute that he is not ready, I will tell him," coach Takleshi Okada said.

French officials deny there is a problem with star playmaker Zinedine Zidane's right ankle. He is expected to start Friday in the opener against South Africa, according to team Dr. Jean-Marcel Ferret.

Chile striker Ivan Zamorano resuming full-scale training one day after experiencing pain in his right knee, which disappeared today.

Nigeria striker Nwankwu Kanu, 21, did not take part in a workout because of a left ankle injury. He has been beset by a series of lingering leg injuries the past six months, hampering his comeback from 1996 heart valve surgery.

A bruised heel kept South African captain Lucas Radebe out of the team's first practice in France, but Coach Philippe Troussier said he thinks the defender will play against France.