The Germans are pinning their hopes on Paul the Octopus, a denizen of the Sea Life public aquarium in Oberhausen. Apparently Paul has been quite an oracle, correctly predicting German victories over Ghana and Australia, and the shock loss to Serbia.
Paul’s handlers bait glass cubes with mussels and mark them with national flags. The mussel he chooses first is meant to indicate his prediction for the upcoming match.
Bad news for England. He picked the Mannschaft. There is no other choice – England will have to outmuscle them.