Thomas Muller said he is looking forward to facing Italy, rejecting "stereotypes" about their lack of fair play and dismissing talk they are Germany's "bogey team."
Germany face Italy in Bordeaux on Saturday (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in the Euro 2016 quarterfinals as they seek a first tournament victory over the Azzurri in eight attempts.
Italy have a reputation for being streetwise on the pitch but, like Germany boss Joachim Low, Muller said he cannot wait to take to the pitch this weekend.
"I like playing Italian teams," he told reporters. "To me they are the fairest sportsmen of them all. I don't agree with the Italy stereotypes -- I trust in what I have experienced and witnessed.
"They are just great characters on the pitch. Friendly, fair, and when you've clashed they help you. I like them."
Asked whether he was annoyed by Italy's "time wasting," Muller said that too was an unfair stereotype.
"When we're up 1-0 after 88 minutes, I don't sprint to the sidelines to take a throw-in -- I expect that I and my team will be smart," he said.
Bayern Munich forward Muller has scored 10 goals at two World Cups, but he has yet to find the back of the net at the Euro 2016 and also failed to score at Euro 2012.
He had several opportunities in the 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in the group stage, hitting the post and bar as well as being denied by keeper Michael McGovern.
"I was really close in that match on a number of occasions," he said. "If I had scored, nobody would discuss it now."
As such, he is also refusing to draw encouragement from his goal for Bayern in March's Champions League victory over Juventus, whose team that night featured Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
"It's of no worth at this tournament that I scored against Juventus in the Champions League. No player can rest on his laurels. You always start at zero," Muller said.
He said that meant describing Italy as Germany's "bogey team" is "nonsense" despite their poor record.
He added: "Every match counts and what some stat from the past says has no worth for the here and now and future."