 The defeat of the West Germans in the politically and emotionally exaggerated match lead coach Helmut Schön to significant changes in his line-up and limiting Höttges to a bench role was one of those.It resulted in the defenders subsequent retirement from international football after the 1974 FIFA World Cup final (West) Germany won against their Dutch opponents.His first of altogether three World Cup participations Höttges enjoyed in 1966 as part of the runner-up squad of (West) Germany in England.