Can England Beat Norway in the World Cup Quarter-Final? Drusillas' Mystic Meerkats say yes!

Drusillas Park's famous 'Mystic Meerkats' have been in sensational form during this World Cup, correctly predicting the result of England's last two matches, and now they’re back as the stakes get higher for the quarter-final clash against Norway!

Before England's opening win over DR Congo, the football-forecasting mob even appeared to anticipate the early scare that had supporters fearing the worst before the Three Lions recovered. They then correctly tipped England to overcome Mexico in what they suggested would be a tougher test, before one of England’s most thrilling victories yet at the Azteca stadium in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Sussex zoo's football-predicting meerkats have returned with their latest forecast ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway - and once again they're backing the Three Lions to progress. Is it too early to say, ‘It’s coming home’!?

As always, the prediction involved placing two buckets in their habitat filled with peas and sweetcorn, a meerkat favourite. Each bucket was decorated with one team's flag, and the bucket attracting the largest gathering of meerkats was declared the predicted winner.

The majority of the mob quickly gathered around the England bucket, signalling another victory for Thomas Tuchel's side. However, unlike a completely one-sided prediction, there was also interest in the Norway bucket, with several meerkats returning to investigate it throughout the session. In the end though, there could only be one winner, and it was England - with the meerkats so enthusiastic about their preference for the English that they knocked the bucket over!

If the Mystic Meerkats' behaviour is anything to go by, England remain favourites to book their place in the semi-finals, but Norway shouldn't be underestimated.

Nicole Dew, a zookeeper at Drusillas Park, said: "The meerkats have been on the money so far. They correctly predicted both of England's wins, even seeming to forecast the early threat from DR Congo before England took control, and they also suggested the Mexico match would be tougher because of the altitude, weather and difficult conditions. England came through exactly as they predicted!

"This time they've backed England again, which will be great news for Three Lions fans. There was definitely some interest in the Norway bucket, and you can never completely write Norway off when they've got a player like Erling Haaland. But the meerkats still think England will get the job done, and they were so keen to jump into the England bucket they knocked it over. So, we could be in for a dramatic match!”  

The Mystic Meerkats first shot to fame during the delayed Euros in 2021 and enhanced their reputation during UEFA Euro 2024 by correctly predicting every England result right through to the final.

While their football forecasting has become something of a tournament tradition, the activity also forms part of the zoo's enrichment programme, encouraging the meerkats to forage, investigate and problem-solve in ways that mimic their natural behaviours in the wild.

England face Norway this Saturday night at 10pm with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake. If the Mystic Meerkats' remarkable record continues, the Three Lions will be celebrating once again – come on England!

Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am. For more information, please telephone 01323 874100 or visit www.drusillas.co.uk.