Few could have predicted that Argentina would lay on the floor
and let Germany walk all over them like a threadbare hotel lobby
carpet, but Paul the soothsaying octopus had every faith in Die
Mannschaft. The underwater oracle - who lives in an aquarium
in Oberhausen - has thus far
accurately predicted each German
result, and as you can see above, he called the
immaculately organized Europeans' victory prior to today's
quarterfinal. They say octopuses* are among the smartest creatures
in the sea, but Paul's prognosticating powers have proved superior
to the majority of land-dwelling football pundits and analysts.
The German nation will be keen to see the English-born octopus'
prognosticating powers once more before Wednesday's semifinal
match, but if the mollusk-huggers at PETA get their way, he will be
freed from his mystical chamber of prediction.
AFP reports:
"Paul is stuck in a small aquarium. ... We think that Paul would
be fine in the sea," marine biologist Tanja Breining from PETA
said.
Taking time away from counting all the gate receipt money they
have collected during the World Cup, the Oberhausen aquarium
responded by saying an octopus born in captivity wouldn't stand a
chance in the ocean. "It is highly likely that he would die," they
said. Clearly the most sensible way to settle the dispute is to let
Paul chose his own future by sticking a couple of glass boxes in
his tank .