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'Psychic' octopus Paul maintains perfect match prediction record
Published: 8 Jul 10 08:22 CET | Print version
Updated: 8 Jul 10 15:42 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sport/20100708-28371.html
It won't come as much of a consolation to heartbroken German fans, but at least Paul, Germany's now world-famous "Octopus oracle," has maintained his perfect record predicting World Cup matches this summer.
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The eight-legged soccer soothsayer was spot on Wednesday, as Carles Puyol's semi-final header shattered Germany's dreams of winning their fourth World Cup.
Two plastic boxes, one with a German flag and one with a Spanish, were lowered into Paul's tank at an aquarium in western Germany, each with a tasty morsel of food inside.
The box which Paul opens first is judged to be his predicted winner.
But with classic fickleness, German fans turned against their beloved octopus after he forecast a Spanish win.
According to daily Der Westen, there have been "a host of comments on Facebook, Twitter ... suggesting Paul should be fried, grilled or turned into a seafood salad or paella. Others wanted to throw him into the shark tank."
On Berlin's "fan-mile," a massive open air set-up where hundreds of thousands of fans watched the game, some sections of the crowd also turned against their former hero, singing anti-octopus songs.
The Spanish government on Thursday expressed concern for the future well-being of Paul, expressing concern the Germans may take some kind of 'revenge' for their exit on the mollusc medium.
"I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team," joked Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero on Radio Cadena Ser.
Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa suggested there be a moratorium on going after Paul: "On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him!"
Such sentiments were echoed by the Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian, who even called for the creature to be given an "immediate" free transfer to Spain to "ensure his protection."
AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)
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Your comments about this article:
Show more respect ! He is the greatest football psychic this decade. All bow to the mighty octopus and worship him :-)
The motto of the world cup 2014 clearly must be "May the eight-armed one be with you!"
Excuse me now, there is a Paul shrine to built and i must work on the design.