Lithuania Keep Their World Cup Hopes Alive, but Players Admit the Situation Is Poor

Lithuania kept its World Cup hopes alive with a 78-73 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vilnius, but the mood afterward remained far from celebratory. Fourth place in Group J is not enough, and the team’s recent qualifying record offers little comfort.

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The trend is not changing, one win out of two. But we are alive, at least that is something. We will have to fight.

Center Marek Blaževičius said the pattern had not changed: one win from two games. Still, he argued that Lithuania had controlled the match strategically. The team defended steadily, attacked the Bosnian bench’s limited depth and pushed the pace until its opponents tired.

Lithuania had conceded 46 points by halftime, yet Blaževičius said the team had not lost control. Gytis Radzevičius also felt Lithuania had been the better side in the opening half, despite rushed plays and missed extra passes. After correcting those errors, he said, the team found more energy and fought through to the end.

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Strategically, we were prepared and played steadily on defense. We wore the Bosnians down, their bench was shorter, and we ran in transition.

Radzevičius gave his shoes and socks to supporters before heading to the locker room barefoot. Around 5,000 fans watched the game, and he said the players were glad to reward those who came with a win. The gesture offered a warm moment in an arena that was not full.

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We play for the fans. It is nice that they support us. At least we managed to reward those who came with a win.

The victory followed a heavy 94-66 loss to Group J leader Turkey in Istanbul. Bosnia arrived in Vilnius after beating Italy 78-76 at home, but without several members of its traveling group after injuries and travel problems. Lithuania’s Aleksandras Lazičius and assistant coach Zoranas Petkovičius did not make it to the city because of missing baggage. Despite those circumstances, Lithuanian players declined to debate absent teammates. Their message was blunt: the situation is poor, but the future can still be changed through the games ahead.

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The situation is bad, it is crappy. But the only thing we can change is the future.