It resulted in the defender's 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.
The defender retired from international football after playing in the 1974 FIFA World Cup final, which West Germany won against the Netherlands. This was his first of three World Cup appearances; he had previously participated in the 1966 World Cup as a member of West Germany's runner-up team in England.