For close to a decade, this Netherlands women’s team had known nothing but success. Coming into this World Cup, it had struck gold at nine major competitions – two Olympics, two World Cups and five EuroHockey Championships.
The last time Netherlands lost a major competition in a knockout tie was the 2016 Olympics final. Only Xan de Waard, who played in that final in Rio, was part of this World Cup squad.
At 30, de Waard, who captained her nation to multiple titles since, did not have the same fire in her belly to chase championships as she once did. The summer at Amstelveen was her swansong, aiming for a record-extending fourth title, a place no team had gone before.
At one point during the tournament, when it was put to Frederique Matla about not having lost a single tournament since her senior debut in 2017, the forward pondered, “Maybe in the Pro League in a season in between.” Finishing second in one Pro League season while having three defeats in 10 years, to be exact.
It’s a kind of unparalleled legacy in women’s hockey. With its robust domestic structure regularly churning out world class players, Netherlands’ status as the queens of the sport is fitting and at times, inevitable.
But for some stakeholders, the Oranje juggernaut rolling over the rest of the competition did not make for the best impression of the sport. “What else is new?” was the prevailing feeling that accompanied each Dutch success.
The last time Netherlands lost a major competition in a knockout tie was the 2016 Olympics final.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
The last time Netherlands lost a major competition in a knockout tie was the 2016 Olympics final.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
At the other end, several members of this Argentina team have only endured suffering at the hands of Netherlands with the 2021 Olympics final, 2022 World Cup final and 2024 Olympics semifinal being the most recent ones. So this showdown in the final offered a chance to erase one among many painful memories.
“It’s today! There is no tomorrow. It’s today, damn it! More than ever, it’s today!” skipper Maria Granatto kept reiterating the message to her group before pushback.
Her words reflected the belief that was cultivated long before the final by head coach Ferrnando Ferrera: “Tactical, technical and physical things are important, but the head, to make it believe it’s possible is the first condition.” Dragflick ace Augustina Gorzelany concurred, claiming “there was no fear. We were ready for this moment.”
But for more than three quarters of the game, it felt like Argentina had squandered its opportunities as the Dutch class of 2026 looked set to claim another gold and further extend its dynasty. Mistraps, mispasses and poor penalty corner set-up had blighted Argentina’s final until then.
As the clock ticked away, home supporters, including many young children, would have started feeling that winning championships was their birthright.
But despite the scoreline not in its favour and a partisan home crowd behind its back, Argentina persevered. Netherlands, the tournament top-scorer, couldn’t impose itself in open play as well as it would have liked. “They were tight and defended very well. They had three players on one, and we couldn’t find open space,” said Yibbi Jansen, whose dragflick had given Netherlands the lead.
If you come for the queens, you best not miss. And Argentina ensured it didn’t against the Netherlands.
| Photo Credit:
AP
If you come for the queens, you best not miss. And Argentina ensured it didn’t against the Netherlands.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Argentina had more circle entries and penalty corners in the second half but without much success. Anne Veenendaal screamed in delight when she struck out her leg to deny Gorzelany again. But from its eighth PC of the game, Argentina found parity through Granatto herself, who capitalised on a rebound to lash the ball into the net to suck the air out of the arena.
But if you come for the queens, you best not miss. And Argentina ensured it didn’t. Having pushed Netherlands into a penalty shootout in a home final, the pressure shifted back onto the host as Pien Sanders, Felice Albers and Freeke Moes all floundered with their penalties.
When Sofia Cairo rounded the ‘keeper to score her decisive penalty, relief overcame the Argentinians as silence befell the Wagener. For the first time in a decade, Netherlands had lost a major final.
The shootout loss, though, may not yet signal the demise of the Dutch dynasty. But for a sport which was wondering where the next potent challenger to the throne might come from, Argentina’s gritty resolve finally provided an answer to the question that came with the Netherlands’ enduring success.
Published on Aug 30, 2026
