Remember Paul the octopus from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa? This World Cup oracle was all the rage back then. Four years later, as the tournament arrives in Brazil—the football Mecca—the first predictive animal to make waves this time is a camel from Dubai: the “divine camel Shahen” (also called “Shahin”).
In the 11 matches that have taken place, the divine camel Shahen has participated in predictions for four key games: the opening match Brazil vs. Croatia, Netherlands vs. Spain, Italy vs. England, and Argentina vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina—boasting a 100% prediction success rate. Unlike Paul the octopus, whose method involved food-based temptation, Shahen’s prediction process is simple: he chooses between two signs facing away from him and bites the one representing the country he supports.
With four key matches predicted correctly, Shahen quickly attracted a challenger—the adorable dragon-phoenix pair from outdoor brand CAMEL the camel. In tonight’s Portugal vs. Germany showdown, Shahen predicts Portugal will win, while CAMEL the camel challenges the oracle’s authority by backing Germany. To boost momentum, CAMEL the camel is also calling on outdoor enthusiasts to join the CAMEL prediction army, supporting the German team and joining forces to topple the divine camel Shahen.
When two camels clash, there must be a winner. Tonight’s Germany vs. Portugal showdown is not only a highlight match but also a battle for the predictive throne between CAMEL the camel and the divine camel Shahen. Who will ultimately take over from Paul the octopus and become the new World Cup oracle? Let the battle begin. We’ll be watching until the final whistle blows.