Finland vs Lithuania: Analysis and Prediction – As part of preparations for the FIBA World Cup, Finland and Lithuania will play a friendly game in the “Nokia Arena” in Tampere.
Finland vs Lithuania Odds
Finland vs Lithuania (1/2): 2.65 / 1.43
Asian Handicap (+5.5 / -2.5): 1.83 / 1.83
Total Over/Under (168.5): 1.83 / 1.83
Odds via Bet365 Sportsbook
Finland Team News
Finland did an excellent job in qualifying for the FIBA World Cup. They were one of the first teams that clinch a spot for Mundobasket. With this game against Lithuania, they will start with friendly matches. Arena in Tampere is expected to be full to capacity, which will be a huge boost for Lassi Tuovi’s team.
The key thing for Finland is that Lauri Markkanen will once again lead this generation. After finishing his military service, the Utah Jazz star is fully focused on all that lies ahead with the national team. Veteran Sasu Salin is still available to coach Tuovi, as well as some proven names like Mikael Jantunen, Alexander Madsen and Edon Maxhuni.
Although friendly games are never a true measure of quality or current form, this duel will have a special importance for Finland. When you play the first game in preparatory period in front of your fans, and it is expected that there will be more than 10 thousand of them, then it is clear that motive is at a high level.
Susijengi spent few intensive days at Kisakallio, and are now en route towards Tampere where they will spend the next few days training and playing this summers first game on Friday vs 🇱🇹 !!
— Basket.fi (@basketfinland) August 2, 2023
To say the mood is excited, would be an understatement!#susijengi pic.twitter.com/t6DbhRUqxb
Lithuania Team News
Lithuania comes to the FIBA World Cup as a team that few see in the fight for a medal. At previous two Eurobaskets, they were eliminated in the round of 16, while they did not even reach the quarterfinals at the Mundobasket in China four years ago. On top of all that, they will now be further weakened.
Domantas Sabonis, Rokas Giedraitis, Lukas Lekavicius, Edgaras Ulanovas and Marius Grigonis are just some of the names that won’t play this summer. Jonas Valanciunas, Ignas Brazdeikis, Rokas Jokubaitis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas are four players expected to lead the Lithuanians in this tournament. Donatas Motiejunas also returned to the national team. Although the expectations in public are not high, head coach Kazys Maksvytis has repeated on several occasions that they do not pay attention to it and that they believe that they can go far.
One of the things that favors Lithuania is continuity of work and a certain system established by coach Maksvytis. In addition to working in the national team, he had a great season with Zalgiris and maybe that position that many put them in will be favorable for Lithuania to achieve a good result in Asia.
Go3 MVP of the fourth #LTUbasketball friendly game – Jonas Valančiūnas!
— LTU Basketball (@ltu_basketball) August 2, 2023
21 PTS, 8 REB & 6 AST 💥#mesuzlietuva | #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/z2CLAICkXk
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Finland vs Lithuania H2H
Although it seems completely unbelievable, Finland and Lithuania have never met at a big competition in this century. They played many friendly games in that period, and Lithuania won the last four.
Absences and Injuries
The coaches have no problems with injuries, but in the previous games, Maksvytis rotated a lot, so it happened that Kuzminskas and Motiejunas didn’t play against Georgia, while Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis and Valanciunas skipped the match against Ukraine.
Finland vs Lithuania Prediction
Finland will have a large number of fans behind it and that could be decisive this time. They will certainly be more motivated to achieve a triumph, and in this type of game that is usually the key.
Tip-off Time: Friday, 04.08.2023, 19:00 CET
Prediction: Finland +5.5
Odds: 1.83
Sportsbook: Bet365