Will the octopus be right?

**kimcyp** · 9 July 2010, 9:48 am

Paul the octopus has decided that Spain will win the World Cup on Sunday. Strange as it seems he's been correct in every prediction he's made so far.

For those of you who haven't got a clue what I'm on about he's an octopus in Germany who makes predictions by choosing a box of food out of 2 choices, each with a different country's flag on the box they're in.

He reckons Germany wil beat Uruguay on Saturday and Spain will beat Holland on Sunday.

**melaniej** · 9 July 2010, 11:05 am

I have my fingers crossed that he'll be right again! Will get to win our Income Access office pool.

Nothing wrong with having the octopus on your side- haha!
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**Nandakishore** · 9 July 2010, 12:17 pm

I think Paul the Octopus had predicted 2008 that Germany will win the European Championship which did not happen. Maybe he has learnt enough in two years to make correct predictions without exception. Anyway he is more reliable than a mathematician who has invented a formula to predict football results and was certain that German will reach the final.

**Anthony** · 9 July 2010, 1:42 pm

The octopus is unstoppable.

**TheGooner** · 9 July 2010, 4:25 pm

I think that the Octopus simply remembers where the good treats are - and which flags have treats. As mentioned above he went 4-2 in Euro2008. Not infalliable - just hungry.

If I am correct he has picked Spain or Germany on 11 of 12 occasions - so I think it's just pattern recognition of strong horizontal band on flags that happen to belong to dominant teams.

**Nandakishore** · 10 July 2010, 4:55 pm

Paul the octopus has done it again. Germany won as predicted by him. I heard that the Spanish Prime Minister plans to send some bodyguards to protect Paul before tomorrow's final. However, if Spain fail to win, I am afraid the Spanish bodyguards may make many portions of calamari out of Paul. Let us pray for this genius.

**Renee** · 11 July 2010, 6:25 pm

Well I guess the stupid octopus was right again..

I really hate that octopus..

Anyway, I'm actually kinda glad the cup is over now. May actually get some sleep :P

**RBS** · 12 July 2010, 12:26 am

lol i love the octopus, omg sooo amazing....

Imagine being in Spain when they won the world cup.... lol they went crazy... never seen anything like it !

Yeessssssssss... one of the best nights in my life....

**quicksilver** · 12 July 2010, 3:58 am

Surprised Paddy Power or one of the big boys didn't sponsor Paul!

**Nandakishore** · 12 July 2010, 4:22 am

Originally Posted by Nandakishore

Anyway he is more reliable than a mathematician who has invented a formula to predict football results and was certain that German will reach the final.

"Curse that psychic octopus! He makes me look a fool", said David Spiegelhalter, Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, in an interview with The Times. "My lessons in chance will in future be greeted by derisive sneers of “OK prof, how do you explain the octopus?”

So Prof Spiegelhalter is thinking of retiring.

**kimcyp** · 12 July 2010, 4:31 am

I was too tired to watch the very end so I missed the goal but from what I saw Spain deserved to win.

Is Paul going to be kept under guard now ready for Euro 2012 to prevent any octopus nobbling?!

Ps - well done Melanie for winning your office pool.

**Nandakishore** · 12 July 2010, 5:23 am

Originally Posted by kimcyp

Is Paul going to be kept under guard now ready for Euro 2012 to prevent any octopus nobbling?!

I read somewhere this kind of octpus lives only for 4 years and that Paul is already that old, so it would be a wonder if can live until 2012. But who knows.

**SlotsAff** · 12 July 2010, 5:23 am

I live in Spain and I can tell you that they were partying till 8am this morning!

There are flags everywhere and you could hear a pin drop now (they are drunk and fast asleep!).

The atmosphere was electric last night - even though I enjoyed it I was I would have gotten some sleep

**baldidiot** · 12 July 2010, 8:10 am

Originally Posted by quicksilver

Surprised Paddy Power or one of the big boys didn't sponsor Paul!

I'm surprised that nobody has tried to buy him!

**Amateur** · 12 July 2010, 8:47 am

Originally Posted by baldidiot

I'm surprised that nobody has tried to buy him!

Octopus don't last that long, so someone will have calamari soon. A fitting end, don't u think?

**kimcyp** · 12 July 2010, 9:37 am

I'm sure there will be a few Dutch fans queuing up for a taste!

**Anthony** · 12 July 2010, 9:49 am

I am sure the "Protect Paul Society" has already formed.

I saw there was an offer to buy him.

But, Paul is giving up the fast paced sports predicting life and retiring:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=11141933

**LuckyLizzy** · 12 July 2010, 10:22 am

I heard that Golden Palace Casino is trying to buy Paul. You know how they are notorious for buying odd and interesting things at auction..

**baldidiot** · 12 July 2010, 11:44 am

Originally Posted by LuckyLizzy

I heard that Golden Palace Casino is trying to buy Paul. You know how they are notorious for buying odd and interesting things at auction..

Didn't they once win an auction to name somebodies baby? I wonder how little Golden Palace Casino is getting on at school these days...

**baldidiot** · 12 July 2010, 3:33 pm

It seems that William Hill actually did try to buy him:

http://itn.co.uk/5d6761434f2dda6f5ee5d03fecfb6844.html

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