'Psychic World cup octopus' is chopped, eaten in Japan

Social media users shared this picture although it was unclear if it showed Rabiot himself/COURTESY
Social media users shared this picture although it was unclear if it showed Rabiot himself/COURTESY

An octopus who had predicted all three of

Japan's group stage results at the

World Cup

has been turned into seafood.

Rabiot, a giant Pacific octopus, correctly tipped the result of Japan's games against Colombia, Poland and Senegal, but will not have the chance to predict the team's results in the knockout stages.

Despite his 100 per cent record so far Rabiot, who was caught in Obira, Hokkaido, was gutted and sent to the market to be sold for food,

Sora News 24

reported.

Rabiot followed the lead of his psychic predecessor Paul the Octopus, who became an unexpected star of the 2010 World Cup with a series of correct calls.

Rabiot made his predictions by swimming in a paddling pool and shuffling towards one of three baskets labelled with Japan, their opponent and a draw.

The octopus guessed right every time, predicting that his side would beat Colombia in their opener and draw with Senegal in their second Group H fixture.

He also predicted correctly that Japan would lose to Poland in their final match, but they qualified anyway thanks to Colombia's victory over Senegal.

Social media users shared a picture of an octopus hanging up at a market although it was not clear if the image showed Rabiot himself.

Fisherman Kimio Abe, 51, reportedly felt his business was more important than keeping the octopus alive - but said he was happy it had called the three group games correctly.

He said: 'I hope that the second Rabiot will also give all the outcomes correctly and that Japan will go all the way.'

Japan take on Belgium, who beat England to take top spot in Group G, in their round-of-16 match on Monday evening.

Paul the Octopus was the first in a series of animal prophets to predict World Cup results, correctly backing Spain to win the tournament in 2010.

The English-born mollusc called the right outcome of eight matches during the competition from his tank at the Oberhausen Sea Life Aquarium in Germany.

Staff at the aquarium fed Paul mussels carrying the colours of either Germany or their opponents during the competition. Whichever mussel Paul ate first went on to win the game.

Paul died in October 2010 aged two-and-a-half and without passing on his rare talent to any offspring.

At this year's tournament

Marcus the pig, Achilles the cat and Nelly the elephant all made selections before the first match kicked off in Moscow on June 14.

Achilles, who hails from St Petersburg, rose to fame after a string of correct results in last year's Confederations Cup.

Meanwhile

Nelly took part in a spectacular penalty shootout at the Serengeti Park zoo in Hodenhagen, northern Germany on the first day of the competition.

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