Achilles Cat Predicts Italy Win Opening Match with Turkey at Euro 2020

Jenny Lee June 12, 2021 | 00:28

Bowls with Achilles cat food were traditionally placed before Achilles next to flags, and the cat made his choice between Italy and Turkey.

Italy win Turkey at opening match of Euro 2020, Cat predicts

Italy win Turkey at opening match of Euro 2020, Achilles Cat predicts

Achilles, St. Petersburg’s Hermitage oracle cat, has prophesied that Italy will win over Turkey in the opening match of Euro 2020. The cat delivered the first prediction on Friday in the St. Petersburg championship press center.

"The match outcome has been predicted, Italians will win in a blowout," the ceremony presenter said. "I think you can even add more food to Italy’s bowl".

Bowls with cat food were traditionally placed before Achilles next to flags of Italy and Turkey, and the cat made his choice.

National football teams of Italy and Turkey played ten matches, Turkey lost or drew all of them. Italians won seven times, while there were three draws.

The cat’s owner, vet for Hermitage cats Anna Kondratyeva, earlier told TASS that Achilles the cat would only be asked to use psychic powers to predict outcomes of the matches that would be played in St. Petersburg. His next predictions will take place on June 12, 14 and 16 in the Hermitage Museum. Achilles will prophesy results of the matches between Belgium and Russia, Poland and Slovakia as well as Finland and Russia.

TURKEY 0-3 ITALY

Full Times: Italy 3 - 0 Turkey

HT: Italy the team playing all the football here but they can't find that final finish. Chiellini had the best chance of the game from a corner but his header was brilliantly tipped over the bar. Turkey haven't had a shot on goal.

Facts about Achilles cat

Achilles, snow white Hermitage cat with blue eyes, began his career as an oracle in 2017 during the CAF Confederation Cup. Museum employees picked him before every other contender for his ability to analyze things, and unusual behavior. The cat correctly prophesied outcomes of three out of four cup games, which were held in St. Petersburg, including the opening one and the final.

Achilles further showcased his gift at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He predicted the winner of the first four matches without a single mistake. He was recognized as one of the best world cup oracles due to these results but then the cat lost his edge, failing to pick the eventual winner in three straight matches. Nevertheless, Achilles’s foretelling shows were attracting a lot of attention of fans and journalists.

In preparation for the World Cup, Achilles underwent physical training - he worked out on special fitness machines to lose weight and participated in public events to socialize and get used to the attention from the crowd.

The matches of the 2020 Euro Cup will be held from June 12 to July 12, 2020 at stadiums in 12 different cities across Europe, namely in London (England), Munich (Germany), Rome (Italy), Baku (Azerbaijan), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Bucharest (Romania), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland), Bilbao (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Glasgow (Scotland) and Copenhagen (Denmark).