Portugal’s men’s table tennis team advanced to the round of 16 at the European Championships but a surprising group stage loss, compounded by key player absences, means they face a tougher draw than their top-ranked European standing might suggest, contrasting with the dominant performance of their female counterparts.
The men’s team finished second in Group 4 after a 2-3 defeat to England on Monday. This unexpected loss was largely attributed to the absence of key players, with Marcos Freitas unavailable and Tiago Apolónia unfit due to physical issues.
The biggest upset in the group came on Tuesday when Greece, the lowest-ranked team, defeated England 3-1. This result pushed Greece to the top of Group 4.
Greece finished tied with Portugal on match difference but secured first place due to a superior set difference. England, despite their win against Portugal, ended up last in the group.
As a result of their second-place finish, Portugal, ranked fourth in Europe, will now face one of the group winners in the round of 16. Greece, in contrast, will encounter a second-placed team from another group, a theoretically easier opponent.
The draw for the round of 16 matchups will take place on Thursday.
Earlier in the group stage, Portugal’s men’s team had secured a 3-1 victory over Greece on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese women’s team demonstrated strong form, securing first place in Group D. They defeated Belgium 3-1 on Sunday and followed up with another 3-1 win against the Czech Republic on Monday.