As much as I dislike Germany, during their really good periods they definitely had quality players.
You can't get better than the Kaizer, Muller's record is second only to Pele. Maier was a boss goalie, Seeler, Overath, Hoeness, Breitner all good players.
And then the 1990 team. You have to come hard to find a more dominant player than Mathaus and then you have Haessler or Littbarski to choose from and a defence that gave yuh the best 5-3-2/3-5-2 system I have ever seen with Reuter, Thon, Augenthaller, Buchwald and Brehme. I ent even mention Voeller and Klinsmann.
It was more than physical capabilities that set them apart. Germany's problem now is not so much the loss of any physical edge, as the fact that they are just not producing those players anymore.
Right now France produces much better players and that is why you see them in Italy, Spain and England. Outside of Ballack and the youth with the dotish hair, what team is buying a German to add something special to their team.