Holland hopeful of Germany match-up for World Cup final

Holland are relishing the prospect of avenging their famous 1974 World Cup defeat to Germany, should Joachim Löw’s side progress against Spain this evening.

Coach Bert van Marwijk admitted after his team saw off Uruguay 3-2 that beating the Germans would make victory even sweeter.

“I remember the match in 1974 very well,” said van Marwijk.

“I was still playing back then and we played a wonderful game against Germany, but we lost that game when we should have won it.

“We played well and we had a unique generation. Johan Cruyff was the best footballer I ever saw.”

The rivalry between the two sides is one of the most intense in European football.

Johan Cruyff’s famous 1974 ‘total football’ team were favourites to beat their West German neighbours when they met in Munich.

Cruyff was brought down for a penality, converted by Johan Neeskens inside the opening minute, but Franz Beckenbauer’s Germany recovered to win 2-1.