The oracle octopus who correctly picked the winner of all six of the German soccer team's World Cup matches, has tipped Spain to beat the Netherlands in Sunday’s final.
Paul, a two-year-old English-born octopus living in a German aquarium earlier tipped Germany to defeat Uruguay in the match for third place. Networks in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands carried live coverage of his decision.
The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, gets the choice of picking food from two different transparent containers lowered into his tank. The container Paul opens first is regarded as his pick.
The cephalopod turned into a global celebrity for his uncanny ability to predict the winner of all Germany's matches - including the group stage defeat to Serbia and the loss to Spain in the semi-finals. German networks have had live reports on Paul's picks.
However, some Germans are calling for a public roasting of the creature. Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans became believers in Paul's possible psychic powers. The country was shocked and distraught when he picked Spain to win after tipping German wins over Argentina, England, Ghana and Australia.
German newspapers and websites were filled with suggestions of what to do with Paul - most involved cooking and eating him.
"Throw him in the frying pan," wrote the Berliner Kurier newspaper in a popular sentiment echoed by Die Welt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Hamburger Abendblatt and other newspapers.
Media attention over Paul's picks in Germany and abroad has grown exponentially, and some commentators even wondered aloud whether his improbable winning streak might have begun to influence some of the more superstitious players.
Despite the antipathy towards Paul, Sea Life spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said Paul has a bright future at his home in Oberhausen. "Nothing bad will happen to Paul," she said. "No one wishes him ill-will. Paul has had a great run."
Reuters