Paul the oracle octopus has predicted that Germany will beat
Uruguay in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday, but is
now the target of death threats from angry German fans.
The octopus, who has become a World Cup sensation by correctly
predicting all six Germany games, plumped for his country of
residence on Friday, carried live on national television.
The two-year-old mollusc medium then took a rest before
predicting the result of the final between Spain and the
Netherlands.
Football predicting has become a dangerous job for the
English-born Paul however with some bitter German fans threatening
to turn him into sushi after he predicted a semi-final defeat for
the Mannschaft.
Paul's home, an aquarium in western Germany, has received
death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan," said
entertainment supervisor Daniel Fey.
"Since yesterday our colleagues have kept a very close eye on
Paul," Fey added.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero has called
for octopus bodyguards. "I am concerned for the octopus ... I am
thinking of sending him a protective team," joked Zapatero on Radio
Cadena Ser.
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
semi-final, some sections of the 350,000-strong crowd watching the
game on giant screens in Berlin sang anti-octopus songs.
Friday's prediction is expected to be the last for Paul, who in
octopus terms is a pensioner, at the grand old age of
two-and-a-half. Octopuses generally live three years at the latest.
Uruguay in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday, but is
now the target of death threats from angry German fans.
The octopus, who has become a World Cup sensation by correctly
predicting all six Germany games, plumped for his country of
residence on Friday, carried live on national television.
The two-year-old mollusc medium then took a rest before
predicting the result of the final between Spain and the
Netherlands.
Football predicting has become a dangerous job for the
English-born Paul however with some bitter German fans threatening
to turn him into sushi after he predicted a semi-final defeat for
the Mannschaft.
Paul's home, an aquarium in western Germany, has received
death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan," said
entertainment supervisor Daniel Fey.
"Since yesterday our colleagues have kept a very close eye on
Paul," Fey added.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero has called
for octopus bodyguards. "I am concerned for the octopus ... I am
thinking of sending him a protective team," joked Zapatero on Radio
Cadena Ser.
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
semi-final, some sections of the 350,000-strong crowd watching the
game on giant screens in Berlin sang anti-octopus songs.
Friday's prediction is expected to be the last for Paul, who in
octopus terms is a pensioner, at the grand old age of
two-and-a-half. Octopuses generally live three years at the latest.
