Tom Cruise as World Cup hypeman
Much of the attention before Sunday’s final centred on the half-time show, but there was almost more build-up than football itself, with a World Cup closing ceremony taking place beforehand. While stars including Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson - the latter performing the US national anthem - were given top billing, the ceremony was somewhat marred by a strange monologue by actor Tom Cruise.
“So as we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together,” he said, in remarkably tone-deaf comments given the many controversies that have followed this World Cup at every turn. “Let us celebrate each other. This is football. This is unity. This is greatness.” If you say so, Tom. The extended closing ceremony meant the final was delayed by six minutes.
