Dutch Women's Team Show Champions' Mentality in Poland: Why This Victory Means More Than Three Points

I was on the sidelines in Poland this past weekend. It wasn't an evening you'd forget in a hurry. Jill Roord fired the Dutch Women's Team into the lead just after half-time in a nerve-shredding World Cup qualifying top-of-the-table clash. The 1-0 scoreline ultimately proved enough to bring the three points home, but if you looked closely, you saw that this victory runs much deeper than just a few points in the standings. This was a statement.

Manager Arjan Veurink had laid his cards on the table beforehand. He wanted to see character, to overcome adversity, and that's precisely what I witnessed in that stifling stadium in Poland. Poland are always tough at home, a physically strong side that keeps fighting until the very last. But this generation of Dutch football women is now steeped in a champions' mentality that finds its origins in the glorious summer of 2017.

Who doesn't remember UEFA Women's Euro 2017 on home soil? That triumph was the catalyst for everything that followed. Suddenly, girls all over the country wanted nothing more than to play football, and the squad grew into an established force in Europe. The match against Poland was a perfect example of that maturation: not always pretty, but effective and with an indomitable will to win.

More Than Football: The Rise of Women's Sport

The success of the Dutch Women's Team doesn't stand alone. If you follow the broader sporting developments, you see a wave building. Take, for example, the 2022 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup. The Dutch volleyball women showed they can compete with the world's best, and in doing so, just like the footballers, they inspired a new generation. That visibility is worth its weight in gold, also for sponsors.

Where companies were hesitant to invest in women's sport ten years ago, they're now lining up. And rightly so. The viewing figures for the match against Poland spoke volumes: more people watched this World Cup qualifier than many an Eredivisie men's game. That's precisely the point where the commercial engine starts to hum. Brands like ING, Philips and ABN AMRO are beginning to understand that investing in women's football isn't just socially responsible, it also delivers a solid return.

The Competition Isn't Sleeping

Yet we can't rest on our laurels. The opponents are getting stronger. Look at the Romania women's national football team – once a yardstick for us, now a team that keeps us sharp. Or the developments in Eastern Europe: the Hungary national football team (men) have struggled with inconsistency for years, but the women's teams in that region are benefiting from better facilities and more attention. Even the Belarus national football team are quietly making strides. The margins are getting smaller, so every point counts.

What makes this win in Poland so valuable is that it shows the Dutch Women's Team can win even on an off day. That's the next step in professionalisation. In the past, we would have lost these kinds of matches; now we grind out the results.

• Jill Roord – match-winner with her goal in Poland, once again influential in midfield.
• Arjan Veurink – the coach who knows precisely when to challenge and when to protect.
• Next hurdle – Romania at home in the Arena, the perfect chance to shake off the competition for good.

And then there's the parallel with the men. Where the Hungary national football team is searching for identity and the Belarus national football team is burdened by political isolation, our Dutch Women's Team shows that stability and a clear vision pay off. They are the showcase of a Dutch football culture that is increasingly thinking in a gender-neutral way. And that's not only good for the sport, but also for the wallets of clubs, associations, and investors.

In the coming months, we'll see if this team can take the next step. The World Cup beckons, and with performances like the one in Poland, the commercial appeal continues to grow. I predict that soon we won't be talking about 'women's football' as a niche, but simply about football. And that's precisely what the market is waiting for.

One thing is certain: after that evening in Poland, I'm looking forward just a little bit more to the home match against Romania. The Dutch Women's Team are on a roll, and I don't think anyone can stop them now.