It is a great time of year for those deprived of our weekly football fix and eagerly anticipating Wanderers return to League One excitement. 

In addition to the upcoming Wimbledon tennis and international cricket, both of which captivate and grip the Baker household (well those of us who are over 30 anyway), we also have the Russia World Cup excitement finally underway. 

The four-year wait is over and we get to explore the endless possibilities for optimism, frustration and pride yet again. 

Non sports fans can stop reading now unless they have an interest in matters mystic and supernatural.

Back in 2010 Paul, the psychic octopus accurately predicted the results of every match played by Germany, including their defeat by Spain in the final. 

The method they used is somewhat arcane admittedly, but unscrewing named jars containing tasty mussels is as good as any other way of determining the future I guess.

It is an interesting trivial footnote that Paul was born and resided in Weymouth before moving to Germany.

So many claimed him to be an English mystic cephalopod. Eight years later, we have a new potential soothsayer, this time definitely an English prodigy, which may compensate for the possible continuance of what will be 52 ‘years of hurt’ this time round.

Enter Mystic Marcus a black micro pig in Derbyshire. He accurately predicted the outcome of the 2014 World Cup when Germany overcame Argentina in Brazil, as well as the outcome of the Brexit vote and the successful campaign of Donald Trump to become President of the United States. Marcus’ method of selection is also food based. 

A circle of similarly sized green apples, each bearing a competing nation’s flag, surrounds him and he makes his choice. 

Apparently the four semi-finalists this time round will be Belgium, Argentina, Uruguay and Nigeria. Certainly a rather eclectic bunch. Or should that be ‘lunch’?

Marcus’ fond owner even claims that on one occasion he declined both available apples and the football match concerned ended in a draw.

To those of us who use really sophisticated methods of selecting horses in the Grand National or Derby, as I do annually, by betting on say Colin’s Fancy or Baker Boy, following Marcus’ ‘appletite’ may seem rather strange, but I’m with the pig this time round for my Fantasy Football selections.