The grim fate of ‘psychic octopus’ that perfectly predicted World Cup results
RABIO THE OCTOPUS met an unfortunate fate following its predictions heroics during the 2018 World Cup.
Having been caught in the Japanese town of Obira, Rabio was enlisted to try to predict the Samurai Blue’s group stage results.
The octopus was tasked with swimming into one of three boxes in a pool, each labelled with either a Japanese win, defeat or draw.
Rabio went on to successfully predict a Japanese triumph over Colombia in their opening game.
After goals by Shinji Kagawa and Yuya Osako inspired Japan to a 2-1 victory, Rabio was enlisted again to conjure up an outcome for their second game against Senegal.
The divine octopus went for a draw this time, and was proven right yet again when the match finished 2-2.
Rabio then went for a defeat to Poland, which subsequently came true when Jan Bednarek‘s goal earned the Poles a 1-0 win.
Japan‘s group stage results saw them earn a place in the round of 16.
Sadly, however, Rabio was not around to make any knockout round predictions.
After the octopus’ exploits made headlines around the world, fisherman Kimio Abe went on to reveal that he had sold Rabio to market, where he went on to become seafood.
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Abe subsequently enlisted the services of a new octopus, Rabio Jr, to try to predict the rest of the tournament.
He told Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun at the time: “I’m glad that all the forecasts turned out correct and Japan moved on to the knockout stage.
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“I hope Rabio’s successor will accurately tip the results of all games and Japan will win the World Cup.”
Unfortunately things did not turn out that way, with Japan famously surrendering a two-goal lead to Belgium, with Nacer Chadli scoring a 94th minute winner following a sensational counter-attack.
Rabio Jr’s predictions didn’t appear to match up with its predecessors, with the younger octopus never gaining the same level of fame.
Back in 2010, Paul the Octopus gathered notoriety for his predictions.
After getting the correct outcome four times in six attempts during Euro 2008, Paul honed his skills for the 2010 World Cup.
He went eight for eight during the South Africa tournament, right up to Spain‘s win over the Netherlands in the final.
Paul sadly died in October 2010 at Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany.