Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has taken inspiration from the 'Total Football' legends of the past but insists his side cannot be compared with the former Dutch greats.

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Van Marwijk has taken advice from Dutch icon Johan Cruyff and drawn on the experience of Rudi Krol in training sessions and believes the Oranje can do what the famed Dutch teams of 1974 and 1978 could not - win the World Cup.

"This is the third time that we have reached the final but we live in another time. I thought about that during the semi-final and the Netherlands in '74 and '78, they are an inspiration," Van Marwijk said ahead of Sunday's final against Spain.

"At that moment I thought the chance was very great that we will win the final. But you cannot compare this team with something that happened 28 and 32 years ago. We just play for everybody in Holland.

"Over the last five weeks I've talked with Ruud Gullit and for a long time with Johan Cruyff, and from the first day we started to train here Rudi Krol has been here.

"He's been here every training session, sitting on the bench and we have talked a lot about the past and the way we play now. I have had a lot of contact with those guys."

Holland's Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has said that while Spain have the better individual players the Dutch have the better team, and though Van Marwijk rates the Spanish as the best side in the world over the last 12 months he insists the Dutch have no fear of facing them in the final.

He also admitted there was a slight irony in the fact that the Dutch influence at Barcelona - Rinus Michels, the creator of total football, was coach there in the 1970s and took Cruyff, who later became manager, there as a player - could now be seen in the Spain line-up.

Van Marwijk added: "Spain deserved to win against Germany, they were the better side and in my opinion they are the best team in the world in the last year.

"I like the way they play. We want to do it in our way but a little bit the same - we respect Spain but we are not afraid of them. We know it's a big challenge to play against Spain and to beat them.

"There are seven Barcelona players in the Spain side and I've often said that Barcelona and Spain are almost the same - the style is the same, the way of playing the same.

"Maybe Spain is influenced by Barcelona, and Barcelona influenced by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, that's a big compliment for Dutch football. Maybe that's a bit ironic but we respect them and we want to do it in our way."