Finland reach Second Round with pair of Belgium wins as Muurinen minutes managed

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/hrkQcWHb/"]Finland[/a] have three wins from four and sit ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/dS5MsX25/"]France[/a] on head-to-head record, registering three consecutive victories since beginning their campaign with a loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/UDBtdAnB/"]Hungary[/a].[/p][p][b]The Wolfpack recorded a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/belgium-jk5QtiIB/finland-hrkQcWHb/?mid=CG3ZdlP0"]71-66[/a] away win in Charleroi on 27th February before beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/jk5QtiIB/"]Belgium[/a] again at home in Espoo, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/belgium-jk5QtiIB/finland-hrkQcWHb/?mid=8rcreSgD"]78-75[/a], on 1st March, which was enough to qualify for the next stage of European qualification with two matches to spare.[/b][/p][p]In the second game, the visitors threatened a late comeback with a pair of Vrenz [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bleijenbergh-vrenz/AqzXRvP8/"]Bleijenbergh[/a] three-pointers in the final minute. Finland tried to manage the closing stages with free throws from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jantunen-mikael-olli-axel/neUrtYi8/"]Mikael Jantunen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maxhuni-edon/Cr5Kvt03/"]Edon Maxhuni[/a], but still gave the Belgians the chance to take the game to overtime.[/p][p]However, with three seconds to play, Bleijenbergh failed to make it a hat-trick of last-minute threes, and the Finns held on.[/p][embed guid="5c507571-5287-4b60-bccd-72e126c24732" url="https://x.com/FIBAWC/status/2028176715038544196" social-type="twitter" /][p]As with many teams across this international window, Finland were lacking their NBA talent for these matches, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/utah-jazz/hGuCX5Su/"]Utah Jazz[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/markkanen-lauri/G2tXBSSt/"]Lauri Markkanen[/a] not involved in the Belgium matches.[/p][p]Teenage sensation [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muurinen-miikka/fZ7WNn4l/"]Miikka Muurinen[/a] was in the side, but having struggled for court time in recent weeks at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/partizan-mozzart-bet/GAiz1YL6/"]Partizan[/a], he was restricted to just eight minutes in both matches.[/p][p]One of the breakout stars at last summer's EuroBasket scored just one point in the away game and two at home, with his lack of form clearly evident.[/p][p]Finland's head coach, Lassi Tuovi, took responsibility for the youngster's lack of impact: [b]"We (coaches) need to look in the mirror. When you haven't played for a long time, you should try to keep it as simple as possible,"[/b] he told the media after the home game.[/p][p]However, Tuovi also took aim at the scheduling of the qualifiers: [b]"On the other hand, there is the problem of the windows, when we cannot practice with these fives, when someone comes from the Euroleague game a little earlier. [/b][/p][p][b]"This sounds like an explanation, but Miika's strength was in the European Championships, when he always knew the five where he could play and shine."[/b][/p][p]Finland will complete their Group G campaign in July, when they host Hungary and travel to France as they aim to maintain their good form ahead of the Second Round of World Cup qualification.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/basketball/world/world-cup/"]Follow 2027 FIBA World Cup qualification on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]