BERLIN (AP) - A German aquarium’s new octopus oracle has gone out on one of her eight limbs by choosing underdog Canada to beat Germany in the opening match of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
Konstanz Sea Life Aquarium’s octopus Paula, an heir apparent to Paul, gave defending champion Germany no thought on Friday. She shot quickly into a tube marked with Canada’s flag to grab a morsel of food in an event broadcast live on national television.
Paul, who died in October at Sea Life’s Oberhausen aquarium, gained fame by predicting eight matches correctly at last year’s World Cup, including Germany’s run to the semifinal and Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in the final.
Octopi at Sea Life’s seven other German aquaria were divided in their picks for Sunday’s match: Three chose Germany, one other took Canada and three made no choice at all.
The octopus with the most correct choices at the end of the nearly monthlong tournament will be anointed the next “official” oracle.
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