Some Germans are calling for a public roasting of the oracle octopus who correctly picked the winner of all six of their national soccer team's World Cup matches -- including a bitter defeat to Spain on Wednesday.
Paul, a two-year-old octopus in a German aquarium, turned into a global celebrity for his uncanny ability to predict the winner of all Germany's matches -- even a group stage defeat to Serbia and an ousting by Spain in the semi-finals.
"Nothing beats grilled octopus," said Dolores Lusch, a Germany fan who works on a Berlin fish stall. "Cut him up in thin slices and grill him on all sides with a dash of lemon juice, olive oil and garlic on it. Delicious!"
Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans became believers in Paul's possible psychic powers. The country was shocked and distraught when he picked Spain to win after tipping German wins over Argentina, England, Ghana and Australia.
German newspapers and websites were filled with suggestions of what to do with Paul -- most involved cooking and eating him.
"Throw him in the frying pan," wrote the Berliner Kurier newspaper in a popular sentiment echoed by Die Welt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Hamburger Abendblatt and other newspapers.
Paul's picks have become news across Germany and around the world. German networks have had live reports on Paul's picks.
On Friday, Paul will tip the winner of Saturday's Germany-Uruguay match for third place as well as the winner of the Spain-Netherlands final on Sunday. Networks in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands are planning live coverage.
(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)
點擊查看更多雙語新聞
(Agencies)
|
德國隊在本屆世界杯上六場比賽的結果都被神算章魚一一言中,其中包括上周三負于西班牙隊的那場比賽,所以日前一些德國人大呼要把這只章魚給烤了。
生活在德國一家水族館的章魚“保羅”今年兩歲,它因準確預測出德國隊在本屆世界杯上的所有比賽的結果而紅遍全球,其中甚至包括德國在小組賽中負于塞爾維亞隊的那場比賽以及在半決賽中被西班牙隊淘汰的比賽。
柏林一個魚攤老板、德國隊球迷德洛麗絲?盧施說:“沒有什么比烤章魚更美味的了。把它切成薄片,涂上點兒檸檬汁、橄欖油和大蒜,再把它給烤了。味道一定很好!”
德國人并不迷信,但保羅的“神算”能力則讓他們不得不信服。保羅曾準確預測出德國將戰勝阿根廷、英格蘭、加納和澳大利亞隊,之后又做出了德國將敗給西班牙隊的預測,這讓德國舉國陷入了震驚和恐慌。
現在,德國的報紙和網站上到處都是如何處置保羅的建議,其中大部分都提到了要把它給煮熟了吃。
《柏林信箋報》寫道:“把它扔進煎鍋”?!妒澜鐖蟆?、《南德意志報》、《漢堡晚報》和其它多家報紙也持同樣看法。
保羅對世界杯的預測已成為德國乃至全世界的新聞,德國電視臺還對其預測過程進行過直播。
本周五,保羅將對本周六德國隊與烏拉圭隊爭奪第三名的比賽、以及本周日西班牙隊與荷蘭隊的奪冠賽進行預測。德國、西班牙和荷蘭計劃對預測過程進行現場直播。
相關閱讀
德西大戰在即 “章魚哥”預測西班牙勝
德主帥半決賽將繼續穿好運藍毛衣
阿根廷隊回國球迷夾道歡迎 鼓勵老馬留任
德阿之戰在即 章魚、海豚上演預測大比拼
德國雇主協會:員工上班可看世界杯
神奇章魚預測德國將戰勝阿根廷
索尼無頭公雞廣告嘲笑法國隊世界杯出局
(中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯蔡姍姍)
|