Dutch women's team shows championship mentality in Poland: Why this victory means more than three points

I was there 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 thrilling World Cup qualifying top-of-the-table clash. The 1-0 scoreline was ultimately enough to bring the three points back home, but if you were paying close attention, you'd see this victory runs much deeper than just a few points on the board. This was a powerful statement.

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 a tough nut to crack at home, a physically strong side that keeps fighting until the very last. But this generation of Dutch female footballers is now steeped in a championship mentality that traces its roots back to that 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 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 backed by an indomitable will to win.

More Than Just Football: The Rise of Women's Sports

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

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

The Competition Isn't Sleeping

Still, we can't afford to 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 consider the developments in Eastern Europe: the Hungary national football team (men's) 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 margins are getting smaller, so every point counts.

What makes this victory 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 – the match-winner with her goal in Poland, once again crucial in midfield.
• Arjan Veurink – the coach who knows exactly when to challenge and when to protect his players.
• 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's game. Where the Hungary national football team is searching for an identity and the Belarus national football team is weighed down by political isolation, our Dutch women's team shows that stability and a clear vision pay off. They are the flag-bearers of a Dutch football culture that is increasingly thinking beyond gender. And that's not only good for the sport, but also for the bottom line of clubs, associations, and investors.

The coming months will show whether this team can take the next step. The World Cup is on the horizon, and with performances like the one in Poland, the commercial appeal will only continue to grow. I predict that soon we'll stop talking about 'women's football' as a niche and just call it football. And that's exactly 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 is on a roll, and I don't think anyone can stop them now.