2010 FIFA World Cup – Germany Out Of Final As Octopus Paul Scores 6-0

Octopus Paul Got It Right All The Way

So Germany went out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition at the semi final stage, with Spain beating them 1-0.  But the real winner is Octopus Paul, who now has a score of 6-0 in correctly predicting the outcome of the winning team in matches involving Germany in this 2010 FIFA World Cup competition. There is now only a consolation match left for Germany, to determine the third place, and whatever Octopus Paul may predict, the outcome won’t change the fact that the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner is not going to be Germany.

Did Octopus Paul’s Prediction Unsettle The Germany Team And Embolden The Spanish Team?

Octopus Paul predicted that Germany would not win the semi final clash with Spain.  In fact, Octopus Paul was so confident of this that his prediction was made live on 2 TV network in Germany.  So now the question is, did Octopus Paul’s prediction embolden the Spanish team which afterall, did defeat Germany in the final of the 2008 European Championship, also by a scoreline of 1-0.?  Conversely, did Octopus Paul unsettle the German team?

The German Team – Unsettled!

That something was troubling the German team before the crucial semi final match against Spain was obvious.  Injured 33-year old non-playing captain Michael Ballack left South Africa abruptly claiming a sudden need to have more rehab in Luxembourg.  But tellingly, Michael Ballack said he would be back if Germany makes it to the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition.

What Caused Michael Ballack’s Premature Departure?

Call it wrong timing, but 26-year old stand-in captain Philipp Lahm chose to speak his mind hours before the semi final match against Spain.  Philipp Lahm said: ”It is clear I would like to retain the captaincy. The job is a lot of fun for me. Why should I then voluntarily give up the role?”  This is a direct challenge to Michael Ballack. 

Philipp Lahm went on to say:  ”If you do your job on the pitch and have it under control, as I do in my position, then you want more. And you want more responsibility. Then you want to take care of it all. And this is now the case with me.” When asked a direct question on whether Michael Ballack should return to the German team as its captain, Philipp Lahm did not say “yes”.  Instead he said: ”It is not for me to say yes or no to this question.”

Looks like a power struggle  going on inside the German team.  Apparently coach Joachim Loew‎ knew of Philipp Lahm’s stand on his captaincy and he did not stop Philipp Lahm from speaking out.

So now we know that the German team must be unsettled, both over Philipp Lahm’s remarks and over Octopus Paul’s prediction.

Chancellor Angela Merkel

Chancellor Angela Merkel, chief cheer leader for the German team in South Africa wished the team “fighting spirit, cool heads and the best of luck.”  Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “I think they will win.” But then, as if hedging her bets, Chancellor Angela Merkel added:  ”But it will be very difficult. Spain are an excellent team.”

And indeed the game proved to be very difficult for Germany, with Spain dominating play and Germany missing their suspended Thomas Mueller. In the 73rd minute of play, Carles Puyol headed in the only goal of the match to seal a place for Spain in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition, where they will meet the Netherlands.  Neither Spain nor the Netherlands has ever won the World Cup, so one of them will become the winner for the first time now.

Think About It

German fans and punters are angry with Octopus Paul for predicting a German defeat that came true.  There are calls for a octopus feast, and fans and punters alike are renaming Octopus Paul to Octopus Calamari or Octopus Sushi.  But why did the German team not display that fighting spirit that brought them to the semi final?  Inexperienced?  Or just plain stupidity to be unsettled over a power grab for the captaincy of the team at the wrong time?  Or simply losing to a better team?  Will Octopus Paul be asked to predict the outcome of the battle for 3rd place in this 2010 FIFA World Cup competition between Germany and Uruguay? Will anyone pay attention to Octopus Paul now that Germany’s campaign at this 2010 FIFA World Cup competition is over?

Previous posts

2010 FIFA Word Cup – Octopus Paul Sees A German Defeat In Semi
2010 FIFA World Cup – Germany Through To Semi Final Stage
2010 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final – Germany Got A Boost
2010 FIFA World Cup – England’s Exit Due To German Secret Weapon?