Germans who doubted Paul shown the true master being

Germans who doubted Paul shown the true master being

Just as Paul the Oracle Octopus predicted with his arbitrary clam picking, Spain beat Germany 1-0 to advance to their first World Cup final. That makes Paul six for six in picking the outcome of Germany's matches and proves his superiority over Jogi Loew's unwashed sweater.

Before the match, betrayed Germans held up signs doubting Paul's unknowing genius, but the wrath of Paul was exacted with the Spain victory. "Also octopus can be wrong," they cried! No. No it cannot. And if you doubt his powers again, he will liquefy your intestines and blow bubbles while he does it. Because blowing bubbles is the closest thing to laughing maniacally an octopus can do.

So what now for Paul? Will he be asked to pick the final? Will he only pick Germany's third-place match? Will he be eaten? Or will he break free from his German captors and begin a reign of tentacled terror, enslaving all human kind, declaring ownership of all the world's decorative pillows and living the rest of his life in peace, free from intrusive cameras and silly flag-covered boxes containing his food? Only the oracle octopus can say.

Largest World Cup bet ever placed on Germany to beat Spain

Pictured: Probably not a man who placed a bet.

As emphatically as a single could ever tell a psychic octopus to shove it, someone (most likely a fellow German) even placed a whopping 500,000 ($631,000) gamble upon Germany to go against Paul a octpus' prediction as well as beat Spain in their semifinal match. U.K. bookmakers William Hill say a record gamble was placed over a phone during 10/11 odds. If Germany wins, a caller, who is "based in Europe," will take 954,000 ($1.2 million). A William Hill spokesman told Bettingpro.com:

"There has never been a bigger World Cup gamble placed as well as it follows a number of alternative large wagers upon a Germans to win a tournament, including 80,000 euros during 14/1 as well as 100,000 euros during 13/2, as well as an additional 75,000 euros for them to strech a final. We don't much mind who wins a World Cup during this theatre - as prolonged as it isn't Germany.

"Mind you, Spain haven't just been unbacked as well as we have bets of 50,000, 25,000 as well as two of 10,000 any upon them to win a tournament."

So while a people during William Hill root for Spain in a pool of cold sweats as well as Paul a octopus floats, utterly oblivious to a judgment of sports, a few unknown Germany fans will stand to make an incredible amount of money off a single match. Assuming Germany continue their bulldozing of all comers. If not, just try to silence your laughter.

And in the end, he got burnt!

Match Review & Highlights: Spain 1 – Germany 0

It's like deja vu all over again: Spain 1 – Germany 0.

Paul the Octopus got it right once again, picking Spain and sending the German romantics crashing out of the World Cup…at least until Saturday, when they’ll play Uruguay in their second straight consolation game. (Must be cruel by now.)

And if Paul nailed it by saying the most technically gifted team would win on a solitary goal from the head of Carles Puyol…well, we promise not to eat him.

The first half of this game was arguably the best 45 minutes we’ve seen on the international level in the last four years. It was, to the casual observer, boring, tense, slow and rather unproductive. But in truth, it was a chess game being played by two grandmasters; an entrancing show of tactical nous and footballing intelligence – from the players and coaches alike – you come to expect from the stage of a World Cup semifinal (fancy that). It was almost so good they should’ve called it quits after the first half.

Germany would probably be okay with that.

The breakthrough came when a flying Carles broke through the barrier of bodies, including his friend Pique, to crash a header past Manuel Neuer into the back of the net just past the hour mark.

From there, the predictable happened: Germany pushed numbers, Spain held and countered on occasion – they, like Serbia with Germany chasing, probably could’ve and should’ve had three – but ultimately it was Euro 2008 all over again with a 1-0 final score.

Both teams were tactically and defensively outstanding, countering not only overall tactics, but each little individual matchup between players. All 22 should be properly proud of how they played – almost to a man an intellectual cut above most teams this tournament – giving us, perhaps for the first time this World Cup, a game played at such a high level on both sides.

And they said this should’ve been the final. No disrepect to the Dutch, but that’s probably true. I want this game framed, on my wall, and I wouldn’t sell it for anything less than Picasso money.