As a data analyst who’s modeled NBA playoff fatigue and MLB bullpen usage, I’m calling out the absurdity of judging Portugal’s tournament resilience using the UEFA Nations League — a two-game mini-tournament masquerading as a championship. In real cup competitions, teams face 6–7 matches with potential overtime. The Nations League? A glorified league phase with a trophy slapped on the final. This isn’t fair to players or fans. Let’s talk about competitive integrity, depth testing, and why context matters in performance evaluation.