England 2018 World Cup bid team hires Octopus Paul
August 20, 2010 11:00 pm
London, Aug 20 (AP): The octopus that grabbed fame by predicting correctly the result of each of Germany’s matches at this year’s World Cup has switched allegiance to England.
Paul has been appointed as an ambassador to England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round of the World Cup in the most recent installment of the nations’ ongoing football rivalry, but the switch is a natural one for Paul.
Although he became famous by calling Germany’s results and the Spain-Netherlands final from an aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul is English born.
He hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England’s south coast in 2008.
"Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany but he is definitely a proud Englishman,” Weymouth Sea Life Center manager Nicola Hamilton said.