A goat has offered his prediction for Scotland's crucial Euro 2024 match against Switzerland on Wednesday night.

Steve Clarke's side were thrashed 5-1 by Germany in their opening match of the tournament, meaning defeat in Cologne would eliminate them in all but a mathematic sense.

Ahead of the game, the local zoo asked Hennes, the mascot of FC Köln, to 'predict' the outcome by kicking one of three yellow balls - one with the Saltire, one with the Swiss flag and one with the Euro 2024 logo to indicate a draw.

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Hennes the goat predicts Scotland will beat SwitzerlandHennes the goat predicts Scotland will beat Switzerland (Image: Newsquest)

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The goat, of the Bunte Deutsche Edelziege breed, initially appeared to waver over his choice and had a brief fight with his trainer, but eventually placed his hoof firmly on the ball to indicate Scotland.

Hennes is in fact Hennes IX, the club having had a goat mascot since 1950 with all being named after Hennes Weisweiler, FC Köln's first coach.

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The German comedy film Die Superbullen is premised on the goat being kidnapped, with policemen Tommie and Mario tasked with getting him back.

Hennes' powers as a good luck mascot are not ironclad, however - FC Köln were relegated from the Bundesliga last season.