Salty soothsayer Paul, the "psychic" octopus, finished the World Cup with a flawless record as Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the last finals and leaves him with eight perfect predictions.
The eight-legged oracle has become a World Cup sensation by correctly forecasting all seven Germany games in South Africa and he finished the tournament in style by predicting a Spanish victory in the finals.
But, because of Germany's loss, he fell offside with the bitter German fans who threatened to turn him into sushi after he predicted a semifinal defeat for the Mannschaft against Spain.
Paul's home, an aquarium in western Germany, has received death-threat e-mails saying "we want Paul for the pan," said entertainment supervisor Daniel Fey.
No less an authority than Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero has called for octopus bodyguards.
Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian has called for the creature to be given an "immediate" free transfer to Spain to "ensure his protection."
Stung by Paul's "treachery" at picking Spain over Germany in the last semifinal, some sections of the 350,000-strong crowd watching the game on giant screens in Berlin sang anti-octopus songs.
The honor of Paul's mother was called into question, according to witnesses.
His prediction of a Spanish victory is expected to be the last for Paul, who in octopus terms is a pensioner, at the grand old age of a two-and-a-half.
Octopuses generally live three years at the longest.
No comments:
Post a Comment