WORLD CUP 2010
TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010, PAGE W2, WORLD CUP 2010
From http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100709/0907WCP060.pdf
By AGENCIES
Spanish PM offers ‘psychic’ Paul asylum from angry fans after correctly predicting Germany’s semi-final exit.
PHOTO: Upset German fans turned on Paul after he correctly predicted a win for Spain. AFP
TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010, PAGE W2, WORLD CUP 2010
MADRID, Paul the “psychic” octopus, who has become a global star after correctly forecasting all six of Germany’s matches in South Africa, will predict the winner of the World Cup final.
But only if his hefty workload has not exhausted him.
The mollusc medium will today make his prediction for Germany’s third-place playoff with Uruguay tomorrow (Sunday morning, Singapore time).
Paul’s handlers will follow the now familiar routine. Two boxes will be lowered into his tank, each containing a tasty morsel of food and the flags of the two opposing teams. Whichever box Paul wrenches open is adjudged to be the winner.
Afterwards, Paul will be offered boxes with Spanish and Dutch flags, the two teams in Sunday’s showcase final, but only if he is deemed not too tired and still hungry, the aquarium’s spokesman said.
“We do not want to overburden him,” said the spokesman.
The eight-legged oracle, who was four-for-five at Euro 2008, has boasted a perfect record at this World Cup. He forecast German wins over Australia, Ghana, England and Argentina by choosing to eat a mussel from boxes emblazoned with the flags of the German team and their rivals.
And proving he is not just attracted to the German flag, he also correctly predicted losses to Serbia in the group stage and to Spain in the semi-final on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
On Berlin’s “fan-mile”, some sections of the crowd also turned against their former hero and sang anti-octopus songs.
The Spanish government cheekily responded by offering Paul amnesty.
“I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team,” joked Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero on Radio Cadena Ser yesterday. Added environment and fisheries minister Elena Espinosa: “On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him!”
By Agencies
Paul’s handlers will follow the now familiar routine. Two boxes will be lowered into his tank, each containing a tasty morsel of food and the flags of the two opposing teams. Whichever box Paul wrenches open is adjudged to be the winner.
Afterwards, Paul will be offered boxes with Spanish and Dutch flags, the two teams in Sunday’s showcase final, but only if he is deemed not too tired and still hungry, the aquarium’s spokesman said.
“We do not want to overburden him,” said the spokesman.
The eight-legged oracle, who was four-for-five at Euro 2008, has boasted a perfect record at this World Cup. He forecast German wins over Australia, Ghana, England and Argentina by choosing to eat a mussel from boxes emblazoned with the flags of the German team and their rivals.
And proving he is not just attracted to the German flag, he also correctly predicted losses to Serbia in the group stage and to Spain in the semi-final on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
Paul’s picking of Spain was broadcast live on national TV in Germany. Yesterday, following Spain’s 1-0 win,some angry Germany fans have posted messages on Internet forums suggesting that Paul’s reward for his clairvoyant powers should be a meeting with the barbecue or the paella pot. “Others wanted to throw him into the shark tank,” reported Der Western daily on its website.
On Berlin’s “fan-mile”, some sections of the crowd also turned against their former hero and sang anti-octopus songs.
The Spanish government cheekily responded by offering Paul amnesty.
“I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team,” joked Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero on Radio Cadena Ser yesterday. Added environment and fisheries minister Elena Espinosa: “On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him!”
By Agencies
Reference
- TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010, PAGE W2, WORLD CUP 2010
- http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100709/0907WCP060.pdf
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