Platini, who shone for his country in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals where twice they reached the semi-finals only to be beaten by West Germany, made his comments to German football magazine Kicker.

"There have been some good matches and some not so good, but in general I think the standard of football has not been particularly high," he said.

"A lot of that has to do with the enormous pressures that are being placed on the players.

"When I was active for example in 1984 (the year that France won the European title) I would be talking to one single journalist while nowadays there are a pack of reporters following the players."

The 51-year-old Platini singled out Brazilian star Ronaldinho, the world player of the year, who he said had been way below his best in his country's games in Germany.

He also took aim at the World Cup referees who he accused of being too ready to hand out yellow and red cards.

"Football is a man's game and it surprises me that as soon as there is the smallest of fouls, a yellow card is brandished," he said.