Russia's football team has failed to chalk up a single victory in eight months but things could be about to improve — according to a supposedly clairvoyant cat who predicted a win for the side in the first World Cup match.

Achilles, a deaf white cat who is the official animal soothsayer for the tournament, yesterday chose a bowl of food bearing the host's flag rather than that of Saudi Arabia, who Russia will face today evening. The cat follows in the tentacle-prints of Paul the Octopus who became a star in 2010.