BELIEVE IT OR NOT? PAUL IS PSYCHIC It will not 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. The "psychic" creature has correctly predicted all six of Germany's FIFA World Cup™ games and, amid excruciating drama broadcast live on national television on Tuesday, plumped for Spain, causing anguish up and down the country. And 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 crown.
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 adjudged to be his predicted winner. But with classic fickleness, German fans turned against their beloved octopus after he forecast a Spanish win.
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 adjudged to be his predicted winner. But with classic fickleness, German fans turned against their beloved octopus after he forecast a Spanish win.
According to 'Der Western' daily paper, there have been "a host of comments on Facebook, Twitter... suggesting Paul should be fried, barbecued or turned into a seafood salad or paella". "Others wanted to throw him into the shark tank," the paper reported on its website. And on Berlin's fan mile, some sections of the crowd also turned against their former hero. Anti-octopus songs were sung.
The 'psychic' octopus named Paul had picked Spain will win against Germany in their World Cup semi-final clash. End result? Spain 2 - 1 Germany...... Paul has predicted all of Germany's World Cup results correctly so far, including wins against England and Argentina.The handlers of the psychic octopus at Aquarium Sea Life in Oberhausen encourage Paul to make the predictions by putting mussels into two glass cubes, with each cube having one of the nation's flags on the front.
The mussel Paul chooses first is taken to be its prediction.
Paul initially went to the Spain-marked container before moving around the tank and then hovered over the German box. But he eventually opted for the European champions.
Celebrity Status
He has become one of the stars of the tournament and put the TV pundits to shame, thanks to an amazing run of correct World Cup predictions.
Life under threat
Argentine chef Nicolas Bedorrou was so angry after Paul correctly predicted his team would lose its quarter-final clash with Germany that he suggested a way to cook the octopus.
He posted on Facebook: "We will chase him and put him on some paper. We will then beat him (but correctly!) in order to keep the meat tender and then put it in boiling water."
Argentine chef Nicolas Bedorrou was so angry after Paul correctly predicted his team would lose its quarter-final clash with Germany that he suggested a way to cook the octopus.
He posted on Facebook: "We will chase him and put him on some paper. We will then beat him (but correctly!) in order to keep the meat tender and then put it in boiling water."
He's big news
Paul's predictions have gained so much popularity that German news channel NTV has started to broadcast his predictions live, with two reporters situated next to his tank so they can bring their viewers all the latest goings on.
Paul's predictions have gained so much popularity that German news channel NTV has started to broadcast his predictions live, with two reporters situated next to his tank so they can bring their viewers all the latest goings on.
He's got a good track record
Paul began to predict Germany's results during the Euro 2008 tournament, correctly choosing the winner in four of Germany's six matches. He predicted Germany to win every match but was wrong when they lost to Croatia and in the final to Spain. So far at the World Cup 2010, Paul has correctly predicted the winner of each of Germany's five matches.
Paul began to predict Germany's results during the Euro 2008 tournament, correctly choosing the winner in four of Germany's six matches. He predicted Germany to win every match but was wrong when they lost to Croatia and in the final to Spain. So far at the World Cup 2010, Paul has correctly predicted the winner of each of Germany's five matches.
He could have made you a packet
Having correctly tipped the winner of Germany's five World Cup matches, backing Paul's tips could have netted you a few squid (sorry).
A £1 accumulator bet on all five results would have won you £131, which could comfortably buy you a few bags of mussels.
Having correctly tipped the winner of Germany's five World Cup matches, backing Paul's tips could have netted you a few squid (sorry).
A £1 accumulator bet on all five results would have won you £131, which could comfortably buy you a few bags of mussels.
He's a Twitter and Facebook sensation
Paul has become an online phenomenon over recent weeks and is now one of the most talked about topics on the web. The phrases "Paul the Octopus" and "Pulpo", the Spanish word for octopus, are both currently in the top 10 global trends on Twitter.
Paul has become an online phenomenon over recent weeks and is now one of the most talked about topics on the web. The phrases "Paul the Octopus" and "Pulpo", the Spanish word for octopus, are both currently in the top 10 global trends on Twitter.
He doesn't cheat
Paul predicts results by opening one of the two flag-covered plastic food containers in his tank. Tanja Munzig from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen has denied any suggestions that the containers are rigged.
She said: "There are no tricks, the food is the same and everything in the two containers is the same except for the flags."
Paul predicts results by opening one of the two flag-covered plastic food containers in his tank. Tanja Munzig from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen has denied any suggestions that the containers are rigged.
She said: "There are no tricks, the food is the same and everything in the two containers is the same except for the flags."
He's not scared of death threats
According to his keeper, Oliver Walenciak, Paul is unfazed by a series of death threats sent by Argentinian supporters who blame the octopus for their World Cup exit. He said: "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."
According to his keeper, Oliver Walenciak, Paul is unfazed by a series of death threats sent by Argentinian supporters who blame the octopus for their World Cup exit. He said: "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."
Having accurately predicted that Germany would beat Argentina in the quarter-finals, Paul faced the wrath of angry Argentinian supporters who have blamed the octopus for their World Cup exit and expressed a desire to eat him in an act of vengeance.
But Paul's keeper Oliver Walenciak remains confident that the octopus will continue performing his remarkable act for years to come from the safety of his tank in Oberhausen as opposed to the dinner table.
He said: "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."
Paul is able to make his predictions courtesy of Walenciak and his staff who place two containers filled with mussels and a flag to represent each football nation into his tank.
Paul is able to make his predictions courtesy of Walenciak and his staff who place two containers filled with mussels and a flag to represent each football nation into his tank.
The container selected by the hungry octopus is assumed to be the predicted winner and so far Paul has a 100 per cent success rate for all five of Germany's fixtures during World Cup 2010, including their 1-0 defeat to Serbia.
"It started two years ago at the European Championships when Paul became the oracle for all of Germany's games and we thought he could do it for the World finals as well," said Walenciak.
"The test is, we have two acrylic boxes with the flag of each team in and some mussels and when he picks the food in one of them, that team will win."
"We know that all octopus have nine brains so we know he has exceptional powers."
"We know that all octopus have nine brains so we know he has exceptional powers."
After the semi-finals Paul may find that the Argentinians are not the only fans eager to see psychic octopus on the menu.
In his latest psychic act, that attracted the attention of German television, Paul opted for European champions Spain over his home nation Germany.But Walenciak is hoping that his prized companion had an off day, just as he did when the two sides last met in the final of Euro 2008.
"In the European Cup he got one game wrong. It was the final between Germany and Spain and he picked Germany which was wrong and this time he has picked Spain so we are thinking he must be wrong again."
THE EARLY ODDS
PAUL'S PICK?
He better NOT get this one wrong or ZL gonna make sotong balls out of OCTOPAUL
:p
He better NOT get this one wrong or ZL gonna make sotong balls out of OCTOPAUL
:p
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