The Polish men's national basketball team scored a spectacular victory over Latvia in a 2027 World Cup qualifying match. The game in Riga remained tense until the final seconds, with the win for the White and Reds decided by a successful shot right at the final buzzer. In the stands and later in the players' locker room was President Karol Nawrocki, who celebrated the success with the squad led by coach Igor Milicić.

Last-Second Win

The White and Reds defeated Latvia in Riga thanks to a successful shot in the final play of the qualifying match.

President's Locker Room Visit

Karol Nawrocki cheered for the national team from the stands and personally congratulated the players on their victory after the match.

Step Towards the World Cup

The victory over the most dangerous rival significantly moves Poland closer to qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

The Polish men's national basketball team took a major step towards qualifying for the 2027 World Cup by defeating the favored Latvian team in Riga. The match was characterized from the start by immense intensity and a close battle, with the lead changing hands multiple times. The outcome was decided in almost cinematic circumstances – a Polish player made the game-winning shot as the final buzzer sounded. This success is all the more valuable as Latvia was considered the toughest opponent in the qualifying group. The performance of the Polish players earned recognition from observers, who highlighted the team's determination and mental resilience in the closing stages of the match. The event also had a significant political and image dimension due to the presence of President Karol Nawrocki in the stands of the Riga Arena. TV cameras repeatedly showed the head of state reacting animatedly to the on-court action. After the match, the president, accompanied by Radosław Piesiewicz, the president of the Polish Basketball Association, went to the athletes' locker room. Recordings from this meeting quickly spread across social media, showing shared cheers of joy and congratulations offered to the players by the highest state official. Experts note that such gestures build the prestige of a discipline that has been fighting for greater popularity in Poland for years. Polish basketball has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years, symbolized by its fourth-place finish at EuroBasket 2022. Historically, the national team's greatest success remains the silver medal at the 1963 European Championships won in Wrocław.The victory over Latvia puts Poland in an excellent position in the fight for a ticket to Qatar, where the final tournament will be held. Coach Igor Milicić praised the team for executing the tactical plan, although media covering the match pointed to moments of lapses in concentration that led to the dramatic finish. Ultimately, however, individual performances by key players and composure in the decisive play allowed for a prestigious triumph on difficult away ground. Parallel to the national team's success, a new investment in sports infrastructure in Warsaw was announced domestically, which is to be part of a broader strategy preparing for planned Olympic Games. „Chłopcy kochani, pokazaliście charakter w najważniejszym momencie!” — Radosław Piesiewicz

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