LISBON (FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers) - Portugal are right now on the outside looking in when it comes to playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

A country with tremendous potential, the Portuguese finished bottom of their group in last year's qualifying campaign for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 yet there is plenty of confidence in the national team camp the side can survive a tough group in the Pre-Qualifiers and make it to the World Cup Qualifiers.

They will take on Bulgaria and Belarus in Group D. The top two sides, after each plays home-and-away clashes, will earn spots in the World Cup Qualifiers.

"Both Bulgaria and Belarus are higher ranked than us, but we believe we can qualify," said Mario Gomes, the head coach and the technical director of the Portuguese Basketball Federation, to FIBA.com.

"We know it will be very difficult job, so we need to have all players available and make good preparation. Our goal is to play in the World Cup Qualifiers and we'll be a team ready to fight for it."

Gomes is both the Federation's technical director and senior team coach

Bulgaria are No. 51 in the NIKE FIBA World Ranking and Portugal are No. 84. Belarus do not have a ranking, in fact, but they were third in last year's FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers in Group D with three wins and three defeats. Portugal were fourth with a 1-5 record.

Do not, Gomes says, expect wholesale changes to the roster that played last summer.

"Despite the fact that final decisions are not yet made, our roster will be similar, but not the same, to last year's," he said. "Portugal has some young talents, one or two can show up this summer, but mostly we'll have our usual players on our roster."

Gomes has a good feel for what lies ahead. He was the national team assistant coach from 2011 to 2014. He then took on the role of technical director before being given the second hat as senior team coach in January.

Some countries that came up short of qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 elected not to go into the Pre-Qualifiers, but Portugal never considered this option.

"We need to improve our basketball and our players, so it's very important for us to play against high-level teams, which means to play the World Cup Qualifiers," Gomes said.

"As you know, we've only one player (Joao "Betinho" Gomes) playing in one of top level leagues (Italy with Dolomiti Energia Trentino), so the national team is also the way to get international experience which is very important to improve our players."

Gomes is one of Portugal's top players

For Portugal, there is also a need like in so many other countries to grow the sport, which is something having home games in six different windows will do.

The Federation should find it easier to attract sponsors and the fans themselves will be able to see the team they care about the most, the national side, during the year and not just in the summers. Spectators will be able to see Portugal play in crucial, meaningful games if they make it to the World Cup Qualifiers.

"Portugal needs to be a part of best basketball in Europe to make the game stronger in the country and if we qualify, I believe we'll have great enthusiasm around our participation in the World Cup Qualifiers."GomesGomes

"I understand why the competition's system changed and I can see some advantages to play during the season and not in summer," he said.

Gomes did say, however, his team would have to cope with less preparation time for games, although that is a challenge that all federations and teams face.

"For the Portuguese national team, it's very important to have some weeks of preparation before the official competition and that won't be possible with the new system," he said.

"Anyhow, of course we're eager to play in World Cup Qualifiers and it will be very good promotion for Portuguese basketball to have top level teams playing in our country."

It is essential, Gomes says, that Portugal play well enough to be in the Qualifiers.

"Portugal needs to be a part of best basketball in Europe to make the game stronger in the country and if we qualify, I believe we'll have great enthusiasm around our participation in the World Cup Qualifiers," he said.

FIBA