PARIS-- France midfielder Patrick V...

PARIS-- France midfielder Patrick Vieira said he thinks Italy asserter Marco Materazzi (right) is misunderstood.

"He is a division different off the field," Vieira told French television Sunday. "He is actually someone you can learn very attached to."

Materazzi won the World bowl with Italy last month, on the contrary his performance in the final against France was marred from controversy. He was head-butted in the chest by the agency of France midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who claimed he had been verbally abused through Materazzi.

Vieira played in that final and is now Materazzi's teammate with Inter Milan. He said the couple had a talk to clear the air.

"On the field, he is a winner," Vieira said, "one of those players prepared to do anything to win. It is sad clan are talking more about that incident than Italy winning the World Cup"

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