Paul the Octopus Predict England Will Host 2018 World Cup

He made his name predicting Germany's 2010 World Cup results, but now Paul the Octopus is returning home to help England's bid to stage the 2018 tournament.

England's campaign came off the rails in May when former Football Association chariman David Triesman was forced to stand down after being secretly taped accusing Spain and Russia of bribing referees.

His comments put a big dent in the considerable goodwill that had been built by the addition of soccer superstar David Beckham to the campaign team in 2009.

Now Paul, who was hatched at an English aquarium in 2008, is lending his particular talents to the bid despite having retired from psychic predictions.

Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany, but he is definitely a proud Englishman and is therefore delighted to put his support behind England 2018," Weymouth Sea Life Center manager Nicola Hamilton said on Wednesday.

"We have had a number of football approaches from around the world but Paul was only ever going to choose his homeland."

The cephalopod correctly predicted the outcome of eight consecutive World Cup matches, dooming Germany's hopes when he plumped for Spain in the semifinal and then also in the final.

He has since signed book and merchandising deals and is set to appear in a film, all of which will help to raise funds for a sea turtle rescue center on the Greek Island of Zakynthos -- which will also receive a donation from the England 2018 team.

"With his predicting days behind him, Paul is now concentrating on a number of new projects and the England 2018 campaign is something we are sure he feels passionately about. Becoming an official ambassador for the bid is an honor for Paul and everyone at the Sea Life Center," Hamilton said.

Paul joins music stars Robbie Williams, Sting and former Oasis leader Noel Gallagher as part of the team along with Prince William, Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

The England bid is one of five seeking to host the 2018 tournament and one of eight hoping to stage the 2022 event, with the decision to be made by world ruling body FIFA in December this year.

Paul the Octopus Faces Strong Challenge From Singapore Parrot Mani

Paul the Octopus now faces strong challenge from Singapore parrot 'Mani'. The world's most famous Octopus Paul predicted that Spain will win the FIFA World Cup 2010. But now it is not alone in the field of  prediction.Singapore's amazing parrot Mani also jumps into the field & started prediction of FIFA World Cup Final that will be held between Spain & Netherlands. Where Paul's bet is Spain, Mani choose Netherlands as winner. 

The 13-year-old parakeet has become a local celebrity in Singapore after its owner, M. Muniyappan, claimed Mani picked all four winners in the World Cup quarter-finals and predicted Spain’s semi-final victory over Germany.


Here Watch how Mani the Magical Bird Choose Netherlands as Winner of FIFA World Cup 2010.

Muniyappan the parrot owner

Mani Chooses Spain

The ‘magical’ bird’s latest forecast saw it flip over one of two white cards to reveal the flag of the Netherlands, who are now being tipped to spring a surprise and claim a first World Cup final win in three attempts over the Euro 2008 winners and bookies’ favourites.
He’s a special bird,” said 80-year-old Muniyappan, who was born in India and moved to Singapore in 1953.

The 13-year-old parakeet has become a local celebrity after its owner, M. Muniyappan, claimed Mani accurately forecast the World Cup’s four quarterfinal games and Spain’s semifinal victory over Germany.

“He’s a special bird,” Muniyappan said.

Mani joins Paul the octopus, who has correctly predicted the winner of every World Cup match played by Germany, as overnight stars as interest in soccer’s biggest tournament peaks and gamblers look for any edge to pick winners.

Muniyappan, an 80-year-old fortuneteller, said Mani has helped him predict the future for five years at a table in front of a restaurant in the Little India neighborhood, but this year’s World Cup is the first time the parakeet has attempted to forecast the outcome of sports competitions.

“People usually want help picking the lottery numbers, or when to get married,” said Muniyappan, who was born in India and moved to Singapore in 1953. “Then gamblers started asking about the World Cup.”

Muniyappan said about 30 people a day now pay for his psychic powers, up from about 10 a day before Mani shot to fame.

Singapore’s ethnic Chinese, Malay and Indian populations, especially the older generations, often seek out fortunetellers for advice about health or their children’s marriage and job prospects.

For 10 Singapore dollars ($7), Muniyappan and Mani can see into your future. Ali, 31, said he was having financial problems and wanted to know when his luck would improve. After burning incense under pictures of Hindu gods, Muniyappan said Ali’s fortunes would turn in 14 days.

Oracle Octopus Paul Predicts Spain to Beat Holland in World Cup Final

The octopus said to have 'psychic powers' after predicting all of Germany's six World Cup games correctly, has had his say regarding the final in Johannesburg on Sunday – and it is good news for Spain. The two-year-old cephalopod, called Paul and based at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, decided that Spain would win the final by going for the mussel in the box with a Spanish flag rather than the one with a Dutch flag on it.

Octopus Predict for Spain

Before that, he had predicted that Germany will emerge victorious from their third-place play-off against Uruguay on Saturday night.

The Weymouth-born octopus has become an international celebrity after picking the winner in each of Germany's World Cup games in South Africa, including the surprise defeat against Serbia in the group stage and the loss to Spain in the semi-final.

The Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said jokingly yesterday that he was prepared to offer state protection to Paul before today's performance, which was live on German TV. "I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team," he said.

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."

Inputs from Guardian.co.uk

Paul the Octopus Predict Correctly Again

Paul, the psychic octopus, has maintained his amazing run of World Cup predictions with Spain's 1-0 win over Germany in the semi-final. 

The octopus at the Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen had earlier predicted that Spain will win the do-or-die clash by picking mussels in a tank with a Spanish flag, and ignoring the German one. 

Paul the Octopus

The eight-limbed oracle has picked the correct outcome in six matches, The Sun reports. 

British-born Paul's owners said that he also predicted nearly 70 per cent of the Germany team's results in the 2008 European Championship. 

Paul became an international celebrity after correctly predicting Germany would beat Australia in their opening match, then lose to Serbia, then beat Ghana. 

He also correctly forecast German wins against England and Argentina.


Inputs from Indiatimes