3x3 semifinal. In the beginning, I thought the odds were fair when the Netherlands were considered slight favorites. But now at 1.97, it seems like a lot. The Netherlands are simply a bad matchup for Lithuania because they have one of the better individual players, Worthy de Jong, who always gives us a lot of trouble and we don't have anyone to defend him. If we leave him 1-on-1, we don't have anyone who can stop him. If we try to focus on him or double-team him, he will score easily, as we saw in the qualifying final. And he is not the only threat. The Netherlands also have physicality, which they can use to match up against Lithuania. Also, while we played two tough matches yesterday, the Dutch had an easy game against Peru and had some rest. They should feel fresher in this long tournament. Another thing that slightly concerns me is the psychology. The Dutch always seem confident, while our team can often be shaky. It's a good thing that in yesterday's quarter-final, we were facing the Polish team, who couldn't make any shots, but there were still a lot of nerves. It's a relief that it didn't cost us the game. I think the Netherlands, with their more versatile lineup and Worthy leading the way, and with better rest and nerves, should be the favorites tonight.
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