<p><br /> Germany's oracle octopus Paul has picked Spain to beat the Netherlands in the World Cup final on Sunday.<br /> </p><p><br /> The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, got to choose food from two different containers - one with a Dutch flag on it and one with Spain's flag.<br /> </p><p><br /> It took him only three minutes to make up his mind for the weekend's match.<br /> </p><p><br /> Tanja Munzig, spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen said she was surprised by his speed in picking Spain. For some matches it took Paul 70 minutes to decide.<br /> </p><p><br /> The two-year-old sea creature, who was actually born in Weymouth, has accurately picked the outcome of all six of Germany's World Cup matches so far.<br /> </p><p><br /> Two German television networks interrupted their programming for live coverage of the two-year-old celebrity octopus's picks. Networks in Spain, the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe also broadcast Paul's decision live.<br /> </p><p><br /> The octopus in Oberhausen has turned into a global celebrity for correctly picking the winners of all six of Germany's World Cup matches, including their two defeats to Serbia and Spain.<br /> </p><p><br /> Officials at Sea Life have installed extra security to protect their octopus.<br /> </p><p><br /> "Paul is in safe hands with us," said Munzig.<br /> </p><p><br /> Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was quoted in Spanish media reports as saying in jest: "I am concerned for the octopus...I am thinking of sending him a protective team."<br /> </p><p><br /> Spain's Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa also said: "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."<br /> </p><p><br /> Reaction in Spain was swift, with the country's biggest selling sports daily website Marca.com running the headline: "The octopus Paul makes us champions".<br /> </p>
