Seven points in the last minute, including a three from well beyond the arc
In the long arc of small nations reaching for something larger than themselves, Portugal's basketball team crossed a threshold they had never crossed before — qualifying for the EuroBasket Round of 16 for the first time in their history, carried there by one man's steadiness in the final minute. The tournament's group stage closed with familiar powers like Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey, and Serbia advancing, while Montenegro's elimination prompted their captain of over a decade, Nikola Vučević, to step away from international basketball entirely. History, as it often does, arrived unevenly — Portugal's reward for their breakthrough is a September 6th encounter with undefeated, defending world champion Germany.
- Portugal's entire tournament came down to sixty seconds: Rafael Lisboa hit a deep three-pointer to tie the game, then converted two free throws to seal a historic first-ever EuroBasket Round of 16 qualification.
- The achievement was made more precarious by the absence of Neemias Queta, ejected in the third quarter, forcing a team that hadn't appeared at EuroBasket in fourteen years to finish the job shorthanded.
- Montenegro's elimination carried a lasting consequence — Nikola Vučević, their leader for more than a decade and an NBA veteran, announced his retirement from international basketball following the 89-83 loss to Great Britain.
- Latvia, Turkey, Lithuania, Serbia, and Germany all advanced, with Germany dismantling Finland 91-61 and remaining undefeated, cementing their status as the most dangerous team in the bracket.
- Portugal's historic qualification has delivered the harshest possible reward: a Round of 16 matchup on September 6th against the very team that has lost nothing and beaten everyone.
Portugal has never been here before. On a single afternoon in September, their national basketball team did what no Portuguese squad had managed across the entire history of EuroBasket — they advanced past the group stage. The moment belonged to Rafael Lisboa, a point guard from a Spanish club in Ourense, who scored seven points in the final sixty seconds: a three-pointer from well beyond the arc to tie the game, then two free throws to close it. The achievement was made heavier by the fact that Neemias Queta, their most recognizable player and a Boston Celtic, had been ejected in the third quarter. Portugal had only appeared in three previous EuroBasket tournaments and hadn't been back in fourteen years. The draw that followed offered no comfort — their Round of 16 opponent would be Germany, the defending world champions, undefeated in group play.
Elsewhere, Latvia entered the knockout round in full stride, overwhelming the Czech Republic 109-75 in a performance that erased any early-tournament doubts. Great Britain beat Montenegro 89-83 in a result that hadn't occurred on the continental stage in over a decade, and the loss prompted Nikola Vučević — Montenegro's captain for more than ten years and a Chicago Bull — to announce his retirement from international basketball. Lithuania edged Sweden 74-71 on a late Swedish turnover that gifted the decisive free throws, while Turkey topped their group with four wins, Alperen Sengun dismantling Serbia's defense in a 95-90 victory despite a strong showing from Nikola Jokic. Germany, led by Franz Wagner's 23 points and 7 rebounds, dismantled Finland 91-61 under interim coach Alan Ibrahimagic, who was filling in while Álex Mumbrú recovered from pancreatitis.
The Round of 16 is set for September 6th. Turkey face Sweden at 11 a.m., Germany meet Portugal at 2:15 p.m., Lithuania take on Latvia at 5:30 p.m., and Serbia face Finland at 8:45 p.m. For Portugal, the reward for making history is a collision with the one team in the tournament that has yet to lose a single game.
Portugal has never been here before. On a single afternoon in September, the Portuguese national basketball team did something no Portuguese team had managed in the entire history of the EuroBasket tournament: they advanced past the group stage. The moment came down to one man's composure in the final sixty seconds. Rafael Lisboa, a point guard playing for a Spanish club in Ourense, took control when it mattered most. Seven points in the last minute—a three-pointer from well beyond the arc that tied the game, then two free throws that sealed it. Portugal was going to the Round of 16.
The achievement carried extra weight because it happened without their most recognizable player. Neemias Queta, who plays for the Boston Celtics, had been ejected in the third quarter after picking up two technical fouls. Portugal had only appeared in three previous EuroBasket tournaments and hadn't been back in fourteen years. Now they were through. But the draw that followed was unforgiving. Their opponent in the knockout stage would be Germany—the defending world champions, undefeated in the group phase, and seeded as the top team in their bracket.
The group stage produced other stories worth noting. Latvia arrived at their final match against the Czech Republic with qualification already secure, having won three straight games. They didn't ease up. The Bertans brothers controlled the paint while their teammates launched three-pointers in waves, overwhelming the Czechs 109-75. Latvia had started the tournament with questions hanging over them, but they were entering the knockout round in full stride. In another group, Great Britain pulled off a result that hadn't happened in more than a decade on the continental stage—they beat Montenegro 89-83. For the Montenegrins, the loss was more than a setback in the standings. Nikola Vučević, their leader for over ten years and a player for the Chicago Bulls, announced his retirement from international basketball in the aftermath.
Lithuania moved forward by edging Sweden 74-71 in a tight match that turned on a Swedish turnover late in the game, which gifted the Lithuanians two free throws. Turkey topped their group with four wins, including a 95-90 victory over Serbia that came down to individual brilliance. Alperen Sengun played at an elite level and broke down the Serbian defense, while Nikola Jokic, despite his own strong performance, couldn't prevent the defeat. Germany, meanwhile, dismantled Finland 91-61 with Franz Wagner leading the way—23 points and 7 rebounds in a display of both offensive firepower and defensive discipline. The German coach, Alan Ibrahimagic, was filling in while the Spanish coach Álex Mumbrú recovered from pancreatitis, and he used the comfortable margin to give minutes to his full roster.
The Round of 16 matchups were set for September 6th. Turkey would face Sweden at 11 a.m. Central European Time. Germany would take on Portugal at 2:15 p.m.—a collision between the world's defending champions and a team that had just made history simply by getting there. Lituania would play Latvia at 5:30 p.m., and Serbia would meet Finland at 8:45 p.m. For Portugal, the reward for their breakthrough was a test against perhaps the most formidable opponent they could have drawn. They had lost three games in the group stage. Germany had lost none.
Citações Notáveis
Nikola Vučević announced his retirement from international basketball following Montenegro's unexpected loss to Great Britain— Montenegro national team
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
How does a team that's been away from this tournament for fourteen years suddenly break through?
Rafael Lisboa. One player, one minute, ice in his veins. When it mattered, he didn't hesitate. That's not luck—that's preparation meeting the moment.
But they're about to face Germany, the world champions. Doesn't that feel cruel?
It is. But Portugal doesn't get to choose their bracket. They made history just by getting here. Now they have to live with what that history costs them.
What about Vučević stepping away? That seemed sudden.
Montenegro lost to Great Britain—a team that hadn't won in over a decade. For a leader like Vučević, that kind of collapse, that kind of failure, it changes what you're willing to carry. Sometimes you realize it's time.
Latvia looked dominant. Are they the real threat in this tournament?
They're playing the best basketball right now. Three straight wins, no mercy shown. If you're watching for who might surprise everyone, watch Latvia.
Does Germany look beatable?
They're undefeated, they're disciplined, they have Franz Wagner playing at an elite level. But undefeated in a group stage isn't the same as unbeatable in a knockout. Portugal will have nothing to lose.