The EuroBasket knockout rounds are here, and Portugal faces a massive challenge. Tomorrow at 1:15 PM, they step onto the court against Germany in the Round of 16. The Portuguese squad, nicknamed “the Lynx,” earned their spot after a thrilling victory over Estonia. Now, they go up against the reigning world champions. Germany has been unstoppable, winning all five of their games so far. Their closest contest was still a 19-point win against a tough Lithuania team.
Despite Germany’s impressive power, Portugal isn’t backing down. Guard Francisco Amarante made that clear. “This will be an amazing game,” he told the Portuguese Basketball Federation’s media. “Just being in this position is already incredible. Playing against the world champions makes it even more special.” Amarante, a new signing for Sporting this season, added, “We will fight to go further in this European tournament, and against such a strong team with big dreams. We are ready to give absolutely everything we have.”
Amarante also reflected on their pivotal win against Estonia. He shared a powerful message from their coach. “The coach reminded us we are here because we earned it,” Amarante explained. “Nobody handed us anything. We achieved the goal we wanted: to rely on no one else.” He continued, “That message really boosted our confidence. It gave us the belief to step onto the court and make history.”