Dutch hardman Mark van Bommel last night joked he will never win the Nobel Peace Prize - but will happily take the World Cup as a consolation.

Van Bommel, 33, insists he would far rather be remembered as a world champion than being a beautiful footballer

Bayern Munich midfielder van Bommel even claimed that the great Dutch teams with players like Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens, who lost the 1974 and 1978 finals, will always be haunted by regret.

“We need to stop people talking about what happened in 1974,” said van Bommel, who is potentially referee Howard Webb's biggest challenge. “If the players of 1974 were asked whether they wanted to win or get recognition for their fine football, what would they say?

“That's beautiful. You get the Nobel Prize. But we want to win. We have been convinced from the start that we can do well in these finals and now we can prove it.

“Spain play a spectacular game and it will be very difficult. We will have to break their midfield and stop their playmakers from playing. That is our biggest mission.

“I would have preferred to play Germany but we will still be focused and ready for Spain.”

Incredibly, van Bommel has been booked just once during the tournament and that was for time wasting against Uruguay in the semi finals.

But van Bommel escaped with a terrible lunge in the build-up to Holland's opening goal but is unapologetic for his tough approach.

And coach Bert Van Marwijk insists his son-in-law's reputation is unjust. “I don't agree with what people are saying. The yellow card on Tuesday was his first in the entire competition. He has shown a lot of discipline in his play.”

Spain midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta are the stylists while van Bommel and midfield partner Nigel De Jong - the Manchester City midfielder likely to come straight back in after suspension - will put their foot in.

While Holland's 70s teams were famed for their ‘Total Football’ the current team has special players like Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben but play in a more pragmatic style. For that reason Spain are the neutral’s choice because of the way they play and regarded as red-hot favourites.

But van Bommel insists if Holland beat the European champions then they will be worthy World Cup winners at the third attempt.

Van Bommel said: “Xavi and Iniesta are great talents. They are the best of their type in the world. But if we win this final we will have deserved it. No-one can deny that.

“People compare this squad to 1974 and 1978 but it’s not possible. The players and the systems are very different. But now we have the chance to realise the dream for our fans.

“We are in this game for the glory and no-one is thinking of defeat. But I would prefer to play a normal, ordinary game and still win.

“People didn’t think we could reach the finals. But I always believed. After losing the Champions League final, it was an inspiration for me to reach the World Cup final. For me to come back and win will be terrific.

“We are ready for a big battle. We will need to play our best match for two years to defeat Spain.”

Van Bommel has already endured final heartbreak this season, losing the Champions League final to Inter Milan. That has made him even more determined not to let it happen again.

But van Bommel has also had to develop a thick skin since his return to the Dutch national team, having been frozen out by former boss Marco van Basten and then falling out of favour.

Van Bommel is married to Dutch boss Bert van Marwijk’s daughter Andra and the accusations of nepotism being the reason behind his return weighed heavily on his shoulders at first.

That has convinced him to publicly state that he will not be looking to take over the captaincy after the World Cup following Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s retirement.

Van Bommel said: “I don’t want to be the captain of Oranje after the World Cup. I haven’t made any international appearances for a period of two years and I think other players deserve it more.

“There are several players who have made more international appearances and I don’t really have the ambition to be the new skipper.

“My decision has nothing to do with the fact that Bert van Marwijk is my father-in-law. I do admit that there was a lot of pressure when I returned to Oranje. I couldn’t afford to play a single bad game.

“It is difficult because people analyse you more and that puts pressure on you. But I think I have more than justified my position.

“But now we can make history and make the Dutch people very happy. We are not thinking about defeat. Only victory and we believe we can do it.”