Iceland and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar played to a 2-2 friendly draw on Monday in Belgium, and the match was highlighted by an exchange of exquisite free kicks between the two nations.
In the third minute, Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos (currently number four all-time in goals for his country), hammered a free kick from an acute angle across the face of goal and just inside the far post — a despairing, sprawling Rúnar Rúnarsson could do nothing to keep it out.
But in the 29th minute, Iceland left back Ari Skúlason curled one onto the inside of the near post and back off Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, in what will ultimately go down as an own goal. However, what a sweetly struck ball from the defender.
The draw means that Iceland finished a disappointing 2018 with one win, nine losses and four draws. The nation will also play in 2020-21 UEFA Nations League B after suffering relegation from League A.
Qatar, currently the world’s 96th-ranked side, actually experienced a positive calendar year, recording five wins (including victories over Ecuador and Switzerland), three draws and one defeat.
If there’s one country Qatar will be hoping to emulate come 2022, it’s Iceland. The population of Iceland is 338,349. Qatar has 2.6 million inhabitants, however, 88% of the population is foreign workers. The number of Qatari in the country is actually similar to the population of Iceland, numbering 330,000.
Qatar’s second of the day — from Boualem Khoukhi — wasn’t bad either.
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