PAUL the World Cup-predicting octopus is to retire.
He correctly predicted the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs – all seven of Germany’s games plus the Spain-Netherlands final.
But a spokeswoman at Germany’s Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium said yesterday he will “go into retirement and do what he likes to do best: play with his handlers and delight children who come visit to him.”
Paul won worldwide attention as he called all of Germany’s games right – including its semi-final defeat by Spain. He crowned his career by forecasting correctly that Spain would beat Netherlands in Sunday’s final.
However Paul took one last curtain call yesterday. Aquarium employees presented the octopus with a golden cup – similar to the official World Cup trophy.
Although the cup was garnished with three mussels, Paul ignored it for several minutes as it was lowered into his tank.
He finally picked off one mussel and devoured it in front of television cameras.
