Paul the Octopus, who lives in a German aquarium, has correctly predicted the winners of Germany’s last seven World Cup matches, including yesterday’s third-place victory over Uruguay. He has selected Spain to beat the Netherlands today in the World Cup final. While I am made nervous by this — apparently the chances that the creature would choose correctly seven times in a row are 1 in 128 — I look forward today to the Oranje overthrowing the tyranny of the clairvoyant cephalopod in the same way their forefathers cast off the yoke of the Spanish crown in the 16th and 17th centuries. May the Lion devour both Spain and Pablo el Pulpo!