While the world eagerly awaits the next World Cup winner and fans continue cheering for their favourite teams, one prediction has already made headlines.
Meet oracle Tarak — a German-born Asian elephant residing at Cologne Zoo — who appears convinced that Germany will come out on top. Faced with a choice between two footballs decorated in the national colours of Germany and Curaçao, Tarak made a quick decision, charging directly toward the German ball.
And while the match itself will take at least 90 minutes to decide, the 4.5-ton bull elephant wasted no time trampling the German ball until it burst with a loud bang.
“I don’t think it could have been any clearer,” said Tarak’s keeper Ingrid Wallner.
“He charged straight at the German ball, smashed it and there was a bang. I think we’re going to win with a bang,” she added.
Meanwhile, in Dortmund, another seasoned World Cup oracle appeared less certain about the outcome.
Walter, an orangutan known for predicting football matches, was presented with two lunch boxes carrying the flags of Germany and Curaçao.
“Walter came out of the rainforest house with great determination, ran straight towards Germany’s box, took it away very decisively, then grabbed Curaçao’s as he passed by,” said keeper Marcel Stawinoga.
The orangutan later carried both boxes into his enclosure and first opened the Curaçao box before calmly moving on to Germany’s.
“One interpretation might even be that Germany is devouring Curaçao,” Stawinoga joked. “But you could also say it wasn’t entirely clear — a bit controversial maybe.”
Whether the animal predictions turn out to be accurate or not, Germany will certainly be hoping the oracles are right when the match kicks off on Sunday.