So long suckers... octopus pundit to retire

The sea-dwelling soothsayer correctly predicted the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs – all seven of Germany's games plus the Spain-Netherlands final – by choosing to eat a mussel from boxes emblazoned with the flags of the German team and its rivals.

But a spokeswoman at Germany's Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium said yesterday that he will "go into retirement and do what he likes to do best: play with his handlers and delight children who come visit to him".

Paul, which originally hailed from the Sea Life Park in Weymouth, took one last curtain call yesterday. Aquarium employees presented the octopus with a golden cup – similar to the official World Cup trophy.

Although the cup was garnished with three mussels, Paul ignored it for several minutes as it was lowered into his tank.

He finally picked off one mussel and devoured it in front of television cameras.