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 participating in the 1974 FIFA World Cup final, where West Germany defeated the Netherlands. He had previously played in the 1966 World Cup as part of West Germany's runner-up squad in England.