BERLIN — The eight-legged oracle has spoken: Paul the octopus says Spain will sink three-time champion Germany in their World Cup semifinal.

The floppy football (soccer) fan from Oberhausen's Sea Life Aquarium today chose a mussel from a glass tank marked with a Spanish flag and ignored a tank emblazoned with Germany's colors, spokesman Daniel Fey said.

But there could still be hope for the Germans.

The only time the usually prescient Paul has erred in the past was ahead of the Germany-Spain final at the 2008 European Championship. Paul picked Germany; Spain prevailed 1-0.

"Paul has decided that Spain will win," Fey said in a phone interview. "But — and that's a big but — Paul got it wrong only one time and that was also a game between Germany and Spain, therefore we think he just simply can't get it right when it comes to this combination."

Amid intense anticipation of Wednesday's game, the eight-legged expert's pick was even carried live by two national all-news television stations.