Germans Threaten “Oracle Octopus”

Furious at Die Mannschaft’s  World Cup semifinal loss to Spain, German fans are turning their anger at the “Oracle Octopus” that correctly predicted the Germans’ downfall. From Twitter to Facebook, Germans still disappointed with their team’s World Cup exit are demanding that Paul the “Oracle Octopus” becomes history by turning the sea creature into delectable food.

Even German media have joined in the calls to end the life of the “Oracle Octopus” with The Berlin Kurier saying that the best thing to do was to “throw him in the frying pan.” A fan who talked to Reuters, on the other hand, wants Paul sent to the griller. “Nothing beats grilled octopus,” Dolores Lusch said.

The “Oracle Octopus” had been predicting the German national team’s matches since the 2008 European Championships. Paul, which lives in a commercial aquarium in Germany, predicts the winner by choosing between two food boxes with the flags of the two competing teams. The octopus had picked the box with the German flag in Die Mannschaft’s Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches, where Germany defeated England and Argentina, respectively. However, the octopus chose to eat the box of food with Spain’s flag prior to Germany’s loss to La Roja.

Despite the threats, though, Paul’s handler, Oliver Walenciak, said the “Oracle Octopus” is in a safe place. “There are always people who want to eat our octopus, but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well,” he said.