Oracle octopus names Spain as winners of World Cup 2010

Spain will become world champions on Sunday, according to a “psychic” octopus called Paul.

The creature boasting “supernatural powers” resides at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen.

The two-year-old octopus decided that Spain would be victorious on Sunday night by choosing the food container marked with the Spanish flag as opposed Dutch one.

Paul’s flawless record is now in doubt after correctly predicting all of Germany’s World Cup games including the defeats to Serbia and Spain. The octopus also forecast a German victory over Uruguay in the third-place play-off on Saturday night.

Yesterday Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero candidly offered Paul state protection should he predict a Spanish victory. He said: “I am concerned for the octopus … I am thinking of sending him a protective team.”

The Spanish environment and fisheries minister, Elena Espinosa, added: “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 the Germans do not eat him.”