Predicting results? It’s a zoo out there
The New Paper’s Huat the Fish isn’t alone.
A ferret who supposedly has foresight and a “psychic pig” are among a mystic menagerie of animals rolled out across the globe as expert predictors for Euro 2012 which kicks off in Poland and Ukraine tomorrownight.
Paul the Octopus might have sadly left us, but his legacy has clearly lived on.
The English-born German sea creature’s eerily accurate predictions during the World Cup in South Africatwo years ago began the psychic animal craze.
The celebrated cephalopod correctly predicted the outcome of every match Germany played in, as well as the WorldCup final between Spain and Holland which the Spaniards won.
While Paul has since passed on, there have been no shortage of successors vying for his place.
Within his species, Paulus,whowasborn inGermany but living in a Portuguese aquarium in Porto, is beingdubbedas the newPaul.
In Ukraine, Fred the Ferret from Kharkov and the Funtik theHogwill be providing predictions.
Funtik, who was presented to fans on Tuesday, is described by Kyiv authorities in mystical terms that promise success akin to Paul.
Funtik will be presented in the fan zone on the city’s main avenue Khreshchatyk each match day at 4pm local time, starting with tomorrow’s tournament opener in co-host nation Poland.
The city administration issued a formal statement announcing it had found a “unique psychic hog who knows football secrets” and was proudly born and raised in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Poland, there was a competition to decidewhowould be their top tipster.