Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke told the BBC that TV replays showing Frank Lampard scoring a goal against Germany was a “bad day” for organisers.

And Valcke suggested changes will be made before the 2014 World Cup.

“We’re talking about a goal not seen by the referee which is why we are talking about new technology,” said Valcke.

Fifa’s general secretary also suggested that the use of two extra referees positioned on the goal-line – a system trialled last season in the Europa League and set to be used in the Champions League this coming season – might be used in future World Cups.

“Let’s see if this system will help or whether giving the referee an additional four eyes will give him the comfort and make duty easier to perform,” added Valcke.

“I would say that it is the final World Cup with the current refereeing system.”

Although Valcke’s comments will be interpreted as a change of policy by Fifa following the International Football Association Board’s (Ifab) decision to reject goal-line technology and other aids for referees in March, the Fifa general secretary wants the whole approach to refereeing to be reformed.

“The teams and the players are so strong and so fast. The game is different and the referees are older than all the players,” said Valcke.

“The game is so fast, the ball is flying so quickly, we have to help them and we have to do something and that’s why I say it is the last World Cup under the current system.”

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has repeatedly rejected calls for the introduction of goal-line technology or TV replays, insisting an element of human error has always been a part of the game.

Opponents have also pointed to concerns over universality – that all levels of the game should be subjected to the same rules and methods of refereeing.

But following the Lampard “goal” in England’s 4-1 defeat by Germany and Carlos Tevez’s offside strike for Argentina against Mexico in a game the South American side won 3-1, Blatter performed a U-turn, saying that it would be a “nonsense” not to reopen the file on technology.

Ifab – the game’s rule making body which consists of representatives of the English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh FAs as well as four representatives from Fifa – is due to hold a meeting on 21 July where the issue is expected to be discussed.

But Valcke said it was unlikely serious discussions would be held until a further meeting scheduled for October.

In March, Ifab heard presentations from two companies pitching to introduce systems which they say provide definitive proof when the ball has crossed the line for a goal.

But both the proposals from Cairos Goal-line technology, which uses a microchip inside a football and magnetic fields around the goal line, and Hawk-Eye, which uses six television cameras positioned around the goal, were rejected.

The Cairos system was tested by Fifa in the World Club Championships in Japan in 2007, but despite their claims that the test was a success, Ifab again rejected the proposal in March 2008.

It was debated again in 2009 but again turned down.

Both Hawk-Eye and Cairos insist cost is not an issue as they offered to pay for the installation of the system in return for a share of sponsorship rights.

Ifab also turned down the chance to introduce the system of two extra referees positioned on the goal-line in time for the World Cup in South Africa.

Strangely, when they returned to Cape Town on Tuesday, that same press pack were complaining a lot less. I saw nothing but smiles from them after the win over Uruguay but then reaching a World Cup final tends to play havoc with your emotions – the usually impassive Van Marwijk was fighting back tears as he faced journalists at the final whistle.

What is Van Marwijk’s secret? Other than his undoubted tactical nous, some people see him primarily as a peacemaker, keeping his players happy and stopping egos from clashing, as has happened inside Dutch camps in the past.

But there is far more to his man-management than just achieving harmony in his squad. I spoke to De Boer shortly after the Dutch had reached their first final in 32 years. He said Van Marwijk has given the squad the self-belief they can lift the trophy on 11 July.

De Boer told me: “The first thing that Bert said to these players on his first day as coach was ‘we have a mission and that mission is to be world champions’.

“From day one, we tried to give them the belief they could win this World Cup. A lot of our players didn’t believe it, while some said they did. I knew they didn’t really think it.

“Getting them to actually have that belief was so important and it is a process we have been working on for the past two years. The fact it is working is a compliment to everyone in our camp from the kit man to the head coach.

“For us, since we have been in South Africa, it has been all about winning the final. That is something I didn’t have in 1998 when we reached the semi-finals. Then, reaching the final four was enough.

“I saw the same in the Uruguay players before kick-off in our semi-final. Some of them came on to the pitch with cameras and were filming themselves and the stadium. That showed they were happy just to be there. Our approach was much better and now we have to keep that focus.”

From what I heard from the Dutch players I managed to get near to in a very crowded post-match mixed zone, the coaching staff have indeed succeeded in convincing them of their potential. Dirk Kuyt, for example, mentioned he had the “belief” to win the World Cup about eight times in a two-minute interview before scurrying on to the coach.

But as well as making his side mentally strong, Van Marwijk has taught them to be disciplined, too.

The 4-2-3-1 formation that he favours is not his invention – his predecessor Marco van Basten used it with far more flair and far less success. The Dutch shone brightly in the group stages of Euro 2008 before, in a repeat of their fate at the 2006 World Cup, crashing out after losing their first knock-out match.

Van Marwijk also uses largely the same squad as Van Basten did, with the exception of Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, now retired (again) from international football, and son-in-law Mark van Bommel, who has returned to add some steel to the midfield after falling out with the previous coach.

De Boer, who won a Dutch record 112 caps for an outfield player and is behind only Van der Sar (118) in his country’s record books, added: “In the past we would go to tournaments as one of the favourites, have two or three good games then crash out. But now this team has shown it is much more stable even if we don’t hit top form.

“If we don’t play our best, we still win, or draw. We don’t lose. The only reason that happened against Australia [in September 2008] was because we were down to 10 men. The reason we are so stable is because the players trust the system we play in.”

The reaction to just about every Dutch victory in South Africa has been along the same lines – that they can play much better than they just did, although they were pretty impressive during the second half of their extraordinary fightback against Brazil.

Personally, I’m not so sure there is much more to come, or that they necessarily need to produce it to beat Spain, who do not exactly appear to be on top of their game either.

Like several other sides at this World Cup, the Oranje have a couple of world-class performers – Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben – and a couple of players with the potential to reach that level. Robin van Persie is one and has worked hard despite looking uncomfortable in his role as a lone striker.

They have all played their part in getting their side this far. While improvement is clearly possible, it is not imperative because more of the same could well suffice.

Don’t get me wrong, the Netherlands will be worthy winners if they do overcome European champions Spain at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium on Sunday but there have been more roundly-talented Dutch teams that have left tournaments empty-handed.

Van Marwijk is probably closer to getting the maximum out of his side than it may seem at first glance and deserves a lot more credit than he has received so far.

He has already matched what former Dutch bosses Rinus Michels and Ernst Happel did in 1974 and 1978 but with a much less stellar squad. The irony for a nation used to seeing their teams fail to live up to their promise is that this time Van Marwijk has overachieved just by taking them to the final.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben each scored to earn a clash with Spain or Germany.

Van Marwijk said: “This is very special. After 32 years we play the final again. Such a small country can be so very proud.”

The Dutch boss added he does not mind who his side face in Sunday’s final.

“I think Spain are playing the best football overall, but Germany are perhaps the best team at this championship,” continued Van Marwijk, who took over as Netherlands coach in 2008 and has now led the side on a 14-match winning streak.

“I won’t say I prefer to play one team or another but it would be unique to play Germany after 1974 [when Germany beat the Netherlands in the final].

“I don’t think in terms of revenge. The Netherlands played a wonderful match against Germany but we lost and we should have won it. It was a unique generation with Johan Cruyff, the best footballer who ever existed. So it is great that we have ended up in the final again.

“I am very happy and proud that such a small country is in the final of a World Cup. It is difficult to understand but you have to go out there and live it and do it.”

Van Bronckhorst opened the scoring in a close encounter with a 35-yard pile-driver, before Forlan also struck from range to level.

However, goals from Sneijder – allowed to stand despite Robin van Persie appearing to in an offside position – and Robben restored the Netherlands’ lead going into the final 15 minutes, and van Marwijk’s men held on despite Maxi Pereira’s stoppage-time curler.

“Things went wrong now and again but we took the initiative and when we scored to make it 2-1 we had confidence and you saw how well we could play,” added Van Marwijk.

“Suddenly we were faced with 3-2 and then it was so exciting. It was survival of the fittest in last two minutes. We were so relieved.

“If you truly believe in something you can make it come true.

“The team started believing it. You have got to have the mentality not to be too complacent. The players in the last two years started to understand this.”

Sneijder, whose goal was his fifth of the tournament and made him joint top scorer, reflected: “This is unforgettable. It was a tough fight and toward the end we complicated matters. Sunday we play in the World Cup final. I have to get used to that.

“We are so close now. There is nothing bigger than the World Cup.”