The octopus that has correctly predicted the outcome of all of Germany’s World Cup games  and I have something in common - we share the same first name – Paul.  But before anyone says anything that's where the similarities end!

For a start I don’t share Paul the Octopus' forecasting skills! I’ve got most results wrong so far! What happened to Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy ... oh, and England?  They should all have got further than they did, shouldn’t they?

Paul, an English-born octopus living in the Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, has correctly predicted the winners in all six of Germany’s matches, including the victory over England (see FIFA World Cup Report – England v. Germany, as well as last Wednesday’s semi-final when they lost to Spain (see Spain 1 - Germany lost).

Now, today, we hear that the savvy mollusc has predicted a Spain victory against the Netherlands in Sunday’s final.

If that turns out to be true, perhaps octopi should be declared a protected species in Spain.  Shame, though, I’m partial to a bit of pulpo from time to time.

© Paul Whitelock