Nico the Parrot has missed again.

He picked England to win against Uruguay, but a Suarez brace all but eliminated the Three Lions from the competition. The irony of it all, especially for our Italy-England divided country, is that England must now hope Italy win their last two games. Of course, apart from two azzurri victories, England have to beat Costa Rica and hope for the best.

Nico must have been bullied into choosing England yesterday after the insults that he had to face after he had picked – correctly – Italy to beat England. After that choice, Nico was the target of many English fans who did not like his prediction, especially when it turned out to be true.

Joking aside, we must again point out that the involvement of Nico – an African Grey parrot at the Pet Market in Naxxar – is just to add a bit of fun and debate during the World Cup. He was lucky to guess the first four games correctly, leading some to think there was some kind of trick. But, we repeat, there is nothing of the sort.

After all, Nico is oblivious to the World Cup and what is happening in Brazil. For him, the flags on either side of his perch are just objects he can pick with his beak.

Trying to guess a result has for long been part of the world of football, and guests on many sports programmes are asked to predict the outcome of a game. One such guest on Malta’s national TV station before the England game was former MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, an England supporter. He predicted England to win.

Like Nico, he was wrong.

The video above is Nico’s prediction for the Italy-Costa Rica game to be played tonight.