Brazil has today been named Host Nation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ by the FIFA Executive Committee. The South American country was the only one bidding to host the tournament, which was due to be staged on the continent under FIFA's rotation system.
Brazil, who have won the tournament a record five times, hosted the tournament once before in 1950, when they were beaten 2-1 in the Final by Uruguay.
"I would just like to say how happy I am to see Brazil's name on that card," said Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "Organising the World Cup is a huge task and we have far more responsibility weighing on our shoulders than when we arrived here. But we will organise a great World Cup and I am very happy."
Octopus Paul's accurate prediction of Spain beating Germany has not gone over well with German fans
.Now it might become dinner.
“Nothing beats grilled octopus,” German fan Dolores Lusch told Reuters. “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!”
Paul’s problem? He accurately picked Spain to beat Germany prior to Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal, which has led some fans to believe (humorously) that he jinxed their beloved team. They’ve responded with death/dinner threats.
Prior to Germany games, aquarium workers lower two containers holding food into his tank. Each contains a flag of the nations in an upcoming game. The food he chooses is deemed his selection. In this case, Paul ate from Spain’s container.
The choice rattled German players, who acknowledged their surprise that he went with their opponent after choosing Germany in four World Cup victories. Paul also accurately predicted Germany’s loss to Serbia in group play.
[Photos: Check out the psychic Octopus in action]
His ability to accurately pick the winners drew throngs of media after the gimmick caught on during the 2008 European Championships. Some television stations carried his choice live. PETA demanded he be set free. Fans claimed he was Germany’s good luck charm.
At least until Paul’s predicted result came in, Spain 1-0. Then fan anger on the Internet intensified. Twitter, Facebook and even old-school media were overrun with opinions suggesting Paul meet his demise for making such an un-patriotic choice.
“Throw him in the frying pan,” the Berliner Kurier newspaper wrote in an editorial.
The death threats have done nothing to frighten Paul, claimed his caretaker, Oliver Walenciak.
“There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well,” Walenciak said. “He will survive.”
Walenciak even said Paul would offer a prediction for Germany’s third-place game against Uruguay on Saturday. If the octopus knows what’s good for him, he’ll pick the Deutschland.
1. This year's final will be the first time a team from Europe wins the tournament outside of Europe. Only Brazil and Argentina have won away from their home continent.
2. This is the first final that will not feature one of Argentina, Brazil, Germany or Italy.
3. It will be Spain's first time in the final. Their best performance so far is fourth place in the 1950 edition, and this tournament is the first since then that they have even reached the semifinals.
4. This could be the Netherlands' first World Cup victory, if they overcome David Villa et al. They've been losing finalists twice.
5. If you followed the two previous points closely enough, you will see that World Cup 2010 will definitely see a first-time winner.
6. Additionally, it's also the first time the Netherlands will not face the host nation in the final. In 1974 they lost 2-1 to West Germany in Munich, and in 1978 they succumbed to Argentina 3-1 in Buenos Aires.
7. The game will also be the first time either manager has won anything on the international stage. Bert van Marwijk has won the UEFA Cup and the Dutch version of the FA Cup with Feyenoord, and Vicente del Bosque won the Champions League, La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid.
8. It's the first time a psychic octopus has shaped the outcome of the final. If Germany had managed to prevail over the Spanish, this would also have been the first time a mollusk would have had the chance to reveal the outcome of a final before it took place.
9. The final will be the first game in this tournament that Fernando Torres maybe thinks about possibly scoring a goal. If he plays, that is.
10. And finally, the final will give you your first chance to talk about something other then LeBron this week.
