So it's Holland vs Spain in final

[Saint in Paradise]

Well it will be if that psychic octopus is correct, it has got every other German result correct so far :lol:

 

BERLIN, July 6 (Reuters Life!) - Germany was in a state of shock on Tuesday after their "oracle octopus" Paul picked Spain to win the World Cup semi-final match against Germany in South Africa on Wednesday.

:lol:

Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans have become believers in Paul's possible psychic powers.

 

"This is not a good omen," wrote Bild newspaper's online edition after the news of Paul's pick flashed across Germany.

 

The octopus has turned into an international celebrity after accurately picking the winner of all five German World Cup matches to date -- including their 1-0 loss to Serbia.

 

Two national networks interrupted their programming on Tuesday for live coverage of Paul's latest forecast, and groans of disappointment rang out across Germany after Paul went for a container with a morsel of food in it bearing the Spanish flag.

 

"We were all a little bit shocked when Paul picked Spain," said Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen. "To err is not only human -- animals can also make mistakes. Let's hope Paul got this one wrong."

 

The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, was again given the choice of picking food from two different transparent containers lowered into his tank -- one with a German flag on it and one with a Spanish.

 

The container Paul opens first is regarded as his pick for the match. Paul first put his tentacles around the German container before moving to his left to the Spanish box -- first opening the lid and then snatching the morsel of food inside.

 

Germans stunned by Paul's decision to pick Spain took consolation in the fact that Paul got one of his five picks wrong at the Euro in 2008. Oddly enough it also involved Spain: In the final Paul picked Germany over Spain. But Spain won 1-0.

 

It was Paul's only inaccurate pick of that tournament. He has never been wrong since and has an overall record of 9-1.

 

"Maybe Paul was just trying to give Spain a false sense of security," said Munzig, who said scores of journalists were at Sea Life to witness Paul's latest pick. Thousands of people have visited Sea Life to see Germany's newest celebrity.

 

"To be honest I'm going to have butterflies in my stomach watching the Spain match," she added. "I'm not a superstitious person but he's had an incredible winning streak so far."

 

Paul was born in England. He has been five for five at the World Cup. He picked Germany wins over Australia, Ghana, England and Argentina -- as well as their Group D loss to Serbia.

 

Media attention over Paul's picks in Germany and abroad has grown with each pick and some commentators have even wondered aloud whether his uncanny run might even be having an influence on superstitious players.

 

Paul's winning streak may have contributed to a growing superstition among the Germany team.

 

Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted he will not wash a favourite blue sweater as long as his team keeps winning. Loew said he bowed to pressure from other coaching staff and players to keep wearing the sweater for their matches.

 

Every time Loew wore the blue V-neck sweater Germany scored four goals. "I am not even allowed to wash it now and I think I will wear it again (against Spain)," Loew said on Monday.

(Additional reporting by Brian Rohan and Reuters Television) (Editing by Jon Bramley and Paul Casciato)

 

http://g.nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/news/germans-shellshocked-by-oracle-octopus--fbintl_reuters-nz-350d66506c5947d148d9e83c8380f3ce.html

 

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Edited 7 July, 2010 by Saint in Paradise

[Saint Martini]

Interesting.

[alpine_saint]

The Krauts over here are really p*ssed off at Paul.

 

I've heard "Calamari" mentioned several times in my office this morning already.

 

Actually, the whole thing is hillarious, because Germans and Austrians usually take the p*ss out the English for being superstitious..

Edited 7 July, 2010 by alpine_saint

[St Landrew]

[Saint in Paradise]

The octopus was correct again then :lol:

[stevegrant]

If you'd placed a "to win" accumulator on each of the six games Germany have played, and followed Paul the octopus' predictions, you'd have got cumulative odds of 314/1

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Can't get excited about this final. Looks good on paper, but will probably see Spain playing keep ball until Holland manage to get it so they can have a turn knocking it along the back a few times. Both teams will close down relentlessly displaying boundless energy but as soon as they get the ball it will be back to 'attacking' at walking pace. Just when it starts to get interesting at 0-0 with a few minutes left the ball will probably swerve in off Torres' arse following a lucky lotto Jabulani punt by Alonso and finish 1-0 to Spain. Cue the pundits jizzing their pants about wonderful Spanish football. I respect their success, just find it all very boring indeed.

 

Hope the Dutch kick the boring ****ers up in the air early doors while the ref is still in 'come here for a finger wagging' mode.

Edited 8 July, 2010 by Kingsbridge Saint

[St Landrew]

Can't get excited about this final. Looks good on paper, but will probably see Spain playing keep ball until Holland manage to get it so they can have a turn knocking it along the back a few times. Both teams will close down relentlessly displaying boundless energy but as soon as they get the ball it will be back to 'attacking' at walking pace. Just when it starts to get interesting at 0-0 with a few minutes left the ball will probably swerve in off Torres' arse following a lucky lotto Jabulani punt by Alonso and finish 1-0 to Spain. Cue the pundits jizzing their pants about wonderful Spanish football. I respect their success, just find it all very boring indeed.

 

Hope the Dutch kick the boring ****ers up in the air early doors while the ref is still in 'come here for a finger wagging' mode.

 

I have a certain amount of sympathy with this view. Never thought I'd say it but, the Germans have been the entertaining team in this tournament.