Rana the psychic lion makes worrying prediction for England vs Serbia Euro 2024 opener
A PSYCHIC lion made a worrying prediction for England’s opening Euro 2024 game against Serbia.
Rana, from the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford, Oxfordshire, was tasked with picking a winner from the Three Lions’ first match.
The male lion considered pictures of the two countries’ flags before putting a paw on each of them to predict a DRAW.
Football fans may remember Paul the Octopus, who shot to global fame by correctly predicting 11 out of 13 matches during Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.
England are led into their fourth successive major tournament by manager Gareth Southgate.
He played in a further four as a player to mark a Three Lions record.
But Southgate – who made his England debut one year before Euro 96 – insisted the feeling is no different from then and now.
He told ITV: “I’m as excited as I was for the first. Every tournament is slightly different and that feeling of the week before is very familiar.
“There is a little bit of anxiety around the camp as everybody wants to get going but also excitement.
“They’ve got great experience of big matches that they’ve come through together.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“That’s balanced now by new players with tremendous energy and excitement.
“Relationships are still forming in some regards and the group are getting to know each other very quickly.
“They’ve got a good feel about them. We will be brave. you can see the squad we’ve picked.
“The profile of our midfield is going to be different and that will lend itself to a different way of playing.
“You have to view every tournament as your last chance. It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 53.
“You have an opportunity in front of you that’s gong to be your best chance and you have to take it.
“I feel ready. I’m a better manager than I was six months ago and a year ago. Time will tell whether that’s actually going to translate into results.
“We’re here to win. That’s a really complicated journey. The first objective is always to qualify.”