Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose claims the current Italy side is stronger than the one that knocked his team out of the last European Championship.
Germany's all-time leading goal-scorer was a second-half substitute in their semi-final defeat to Italy at Euro 2012, when a brace from Mario Balotelli earned the Azzurri a 2-1 win in Warsaw.
But Klose, who retired from international football after winning the World Cup two years ago, believes Joachim Low's side will face a stiffer test against Italy in the quarter-finals in Bordeaux on Saturday.
He told Kicker: "Italy is even stronger than in 2012.