Spain to win World Cup.....says Oracle Octopus

Germany's oracle octopus Paul has picked Spain to beat the Netherlands in the World Cup final on Sunday.

The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, got to choose food from two different containers - one with a Dutch flag on it and one with Spain's flag.

It took him only three minutes to make up his mind for the weekend's match.

Tanja Munzig, spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen said she was surprised by his speed in picking Spain. For some matches it took Paul 70 minutes to decide.

The two-year-old sea creature, who was actually born in Weymouth, has accurately picked the outcome of all six of Germany's World Cup matches so far.

Two German television networks interrupted their programming for live coverage of the two-year-old celebrity octopus's picks. Networks in Spain, the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe also broadcast Paul's decision live.

The octopus in Oberhausen has turned into a global celebrity for correctly picking the winners of all six of Germany's World Cup matches, including their two defeats to Serbia and Spain.

Officials at Sea Life have installed extra security to protect their octopus.

"Paul is in safe hands with us," said Munzig.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was quoted in Spanish media reports as saying in jest: "I am concerned for the octopus...I am thinking of sending him a protective team."

Spain's Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa also said: "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 Germans do not eat him."

Reaction in Spain was swift, with the country's biggest selling sports daily website Marca.com running the headline: "The octopus Paul makes us champions".