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Viera said: "I know him well and there has been quite a lot of tension between us on the pitch, but we respect each other. It always ended with us shaking hands at the end of the match. I know he will be tough with me and I will be tough with him too. He is a very determined man, like me."
Vieira lost the captain's armband to Zinedine Zidane following the Real Madrid playmaker's return to international football but he insists it was a decision he fully understood.
He added: "I guess I am more like a vice-captain now. I am not the official captain anymore but the importance I have in the group is the same. My captaincy was short but I am proud of it. And Zizou did not steal if from me. It was sorted out between me, the coach and Zizou. Things are clear for everyone and we are coping well with them."
Meanwhile, the FAI have announced a change in kick off time for tomorrow night's crucial match.
The game will now kick off at 7:55pm, 25 minutes later than had been scheduled.
The switch has been made to facilitate French television.