It's not only about Germany though.
Ukraine - beat Switzerland & Austria, Italy, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, 1st place in group of death. Then beat Netherlands in Quarters and lost to France with Germany.
Ireland - beat Swtizerland & Austria, Italy, Romania lost to Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, didn't get out of the group stage, made it to "secondary bracket". Got default win against Canada, beat Scotland and again beat Switzerland & Austria.
Does it literally make them deserve TOP-4 spot more than Ukraine, as example? That's a bit stupid though.