Yes the main difference between England and Germany is the ability/inability to do it in a major tournament.
I remember watching Capello's England qualify for the World Cup with games to spare and a 100% record (not the usual needing to win the last game 28-0 and hope Andorra could draw with Italy). I was finally convinced, we had a team that could perform against the best.
So off we went to the finals and what did we have? The same team of dullards who couldn't string two passes together in a major finals. We just can't do it when it matters - and Germany can.
The German fans claim they don't even watch the group games in World Cup Finals because they know they'll get through to the knock out stages, and they'll start watching from then. Then go all the way, thrash Brazil in the final in Brazil, to win the World Cup again.
While we lose to Italy, lose to Uruguay and grind out a nil nil draw with Costa Rica.