World Cup 2018 diary: Will Smith and getting creative with kokoshniki

From left: Ezra Istrefi, Will Smith and Nicky Jam with the World Cup trophy. PHOTO | GETTY IMAGES |

The build-up to the World Cup final is firmly underway, but there is unlikely to be such an entertaining briefing for the media in Moscow as that provided by Will Smith on Friday.

The actor and music star, alongside Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi, talked to journalists at Luzhniki Stadium about the closing ceremony and whether Neymar's theatrics are up to scratch.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino earlier appeared in interesting costume, while a major Russian clinical testing company sought to cash in on the kokoshniki craze sweeping the country.

All this and more featured in day 30 in Russia...

WILL SMITH SHAKES THE ROOM BUT HAS SOME NEYMAR SYMPATHY

If you needed proof that the World Cup final is a special event, you need only have been present for the closing ceremony news conference on Friday.

Artists Era Istrefi, Nicky Jam and Will Smith attended as a preview for Sunday's festivities, where they will be performing the tournament's main song along with at least one promised "surprise".

Smith's irrepressible good spirits proved infectious from the off. After two Colombian reporters shouted a 'hello', he had journalists across the room yelling out where they were from before bellowing it back into the microphones. It's hard to imagine Zlatko Dalic doing the same.

Later, the actor was asked for his professional opinion on Neymar's theatrics during the World Cup. Although he initially said he had "been in this business way too long to answer that question", he couldn't resist expanding.

"As an actor, you have a situation where you make The Pursuit of Happyness, you make Independence Day, and then you make Wild Wild West. When you perform on a global scale, you have good days and bad days."

Seems a bit harsh on a fine performance from Kevin Kline, but there you go.

RAKITIC HEADING FOR WORLD CUP TRIBUTE

Many footballers recognise their finest achievements on the pitch with commemorative tattoos. Sergio Ramos, for instance, has a few permanent reminders of his Champions League triumphs.

Ivan Rakitic is a rather 'clean' player by comparison but even the Barcelona midfielder is considering an inky tribute if Croatia win the World Cup final. And it's not exactly subtle.

Asked if he would consider a tattoo if his team win in Moscow, he replied: "Yes, on my forehead! There's plenty of space there, as you can see! But first I'll have to ask my wife."

We'll see if he is a man of his word...

INFANTINO'S PERPLEXING VOLUNTEER SOLIDARITY

Fifa president Gianni Infantino arrived for a news conference on Friday in a manner breaking with usual propriety, wearing one of the jackets sported by Russia 2018's volunteers rather than his usual crisp suit.

It was a decent gesture to mark the contribution of thousands of unpaid workers at these finals, who have generally been nothing but helpful, cheerful and courteous to a fault.

"I'm here in a volunteer tracksuit to thank the volunteers and tell them, yes, I'm paid, everyone working is paid, but we have all been and are volunteers," Infantino explained.

"We go back home and drive our children to events, we prepare drinks or whatever, we are all normal people and the basis of our sport is working with and is thanks to the volunteers. They deserve great respect and a great thank you from the Fifa president and all those who have benefited from their work."

He had a point, even if it was undermined just a little when he was shepherded away in a sleek black saloon minutes later.

SHAQIRI AND XHAKA CELEBRATIONS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka created one of the more controversial moments of the group stage with their goal celebrations against Serbia.

The Switzerland duo earned a fine for their football association after making an eagle shape with their hands in the 2-1 Group E victory, apparently in reference to their Kosovan and Albanian roots.

The gestures were warmly received by Albanians but caused uproar in parts of Serbia, a country that does not recognise Kosovo as an independent state, but it felt the issue was rather hastily swept aside by Fifa's sanctions.

Era Istrefi has not forgotten, though. In the raucous closing ceremony briefing alongside Will Smith, the 24-year-old singer reminded the room of the power of football's impact by mentioning those eagle celebrations as her favourite moment of the tournament.

"There were two Albanians and both of them scored goals," said Istrefi, who is from Kosovo's capital, Pristina. "It was amazing. I felt pretty amazing."

RUSSIA CASHES IN ON KOKOSHNIKI

With Fifa holding monopoly over branded merchandise, a lot of Russian shop-owners have been trying to find a way to bring in the Rubles from World Cup visitors.

One such boon has been through the sales of kokoshniki, the traditional headwear that has become hugely popular among travelling fans ever since they first saw a handful of locals sporting them at the venues.

Classically worn only by women, the craze to get hold of a kokoshnik has led not only to stock running low, but to some rather inventive offers from other businesses.

Take Invitro, a clinical testing company, who this week offered a 50 per cent discount on blood and urine samples to anyone who showed up to their Moscow branch wearing the garment.

"People forget about check-ups, and this was a perfect opportunity to use a popular trend to advertise our services," Dmitry Khapunov, a spokesperson for the company, told The Moscow Times.