Sussex meerkats predict Lionesses will win first Euros match

The animals at Drusillas Park, near Alfriston, have backed the Lionesses, and the previous Euros winners, to claim the win over their opponents in their first game of the tournament.

The meerkats make their decision known by choosing nuts from one of two buckets which have each team’s flag on.

The meerkats in action (Image: Drusillas) The bucket surrounded by the most meerkats is declared the winner.

The furry fortune tellers have found fame thanks to a near perfect prediction record in previous football tournaments. Becoming an internet sensation due to their spookily accurate football forecasts, they backed the Lionesses all the way to victory ahead of their historic Euros win in 2022. Now, keepers are hoping the England women’s team – and the meerkats – can do it all over again.

Gemma Romanis, head keeper at Drusillas Park, said: “Spain might be the team to beat in the 2025 Euros, but both the zoo team and the mystic meerkats have faith in the Lionesses.

Keeper Jacinta Dawe with the mystic meerkats (Image: Drusillas) “France wasn’t the easiest team to draw for the first group stage match, and the meerkats did take a little longer than usual to choose their bucket, so we don’t think it will be a walk over. But the meerkats seem sure England will win in the end.

“Whether you’re superstitious or not, the meerkats do have a pretty impressive track record when it comes to predictions, so I’m going to back them up and say the Lionesses are going to start as they mean to go on. Come on England!”

The Lionesses take on France on Saturday at 8pm.