Dutch women's team display championship mentality in Poland: why this win is more than just three points

I was on the sidelines in Poland this past weekend. It wasn't an evening to forget quickly. Right after the break, Jill Roord fired the Dutch women's team into the lead in a thrilling FIFA World Cup qualifier. The 1-0 scoreline ultimately proved enough to take all three points home, but if you watched closely, you saw this win runs much deeper than just a few points in the standings. This was a statement.

Head coach Arjan Veurink had laid his cards on the table beforehand. He wanted to see character, to overcome resistance, and that's exactly what I witnessed in that tense stadium in Poland. Poland is always tough at home, a physically strong team that keeps fighting until the very end. But this generation of Dutch women footballers is now imbued with a championship mindset that finds its origins in the glorious summer of 2017.

Who doesn't remember the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 on home soil? That triumph was the catalyst for everything that followed. Suddenly, girls across 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 willpower.

More than football: the rise of women's sports

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

Where companies were hesitant to invest in women's sports ten years ago, they are now lining up. And rightfully so. The viewership figures for the match against Poland spoke volumes: more people watched this qualifier than many Eredivisie matches. This is precisely the point where the commercial engine starts to turn. Brands like ING, Philips, and ABN AMRO are beginning to understand that investing in women's football is not only socially responsible but also delivers solid returns.

The competition isn't sleeping

Still, we cannot rest on our laurels. The opponents are getting stronger. Look at the Romania women's national football team – once a benchmark for us, now a team that keeps us on our toes. Or the developments in Eastern Europe: the Hungary national football team (men) has 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 is quietly making strides. The margin is 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 is the next step in professionalization. In the past, we would lose these kinds of matches; now we drag them over the finish line.

• Jill Roord – the match-winner with her goal in Poland, once again pivotal in midfield.
• Arjan Veurink – the coach who knows exactly 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 exactly what the market has been waiting for.

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