Spain Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has jokingly said he was concerned about the safety of octopus Paul, who became one of the prominent figures at the World Cup. The two-year-old octopus stole the limelight at the South Africa finals for correctly predicting the outcomes of Germany's games. He tipped Spain to beat Germany in the semi final and his choice proved accurate, with the European champions claiming a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win to reach the first ever World Cup final. On Friday morning, he predicted that Spain would overcome Holland in Sunday's anticipated final and Germany would beat Uruguay in the third-place playoff one day earlier. "I am concerned for the octopus…I am thinking of sending him a protective team," Zapatero was quoted as saying by Spanish media. Numerous German suggestions discussed the best possible way to get rid of Paul after the three-time world champions were eliminated by Spain. The predictions of the English-born octopus are broadcast by several TV networks in Europe. "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 Germans do not eat him," Spain's Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa said.
