insideworldfootball

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

July 30 - England's World Cup bid is hoping to sign-up a new ambassador to help its campaign to host the 2018 tournament - Paul the Octopus.

They want Paul, who became internationally famous for correctly predicting the winner of Germany's seven matches at the 2010 World Cup from his tank in Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, as well as the final, to come home and back their bid.

insideworldfootball understands that talks have taken place between England 2018 and Paul's representatives, although officials from the bid refused to comment. 

A report in German magazine Der Spiegel published today claimed that they have opened negotiations for the Weymouth-hatched octopus to play a role in their efforts to bring the World Cup back to this country for the first time since 1966.

But England could face opposition for Paul's services from one of their main rivals, Spain, who are bidding jointly for the 2018 World Cup with Portugal.

Paul is a national hero in Spain after correctly predicting, first their semi-final victory over Germany and, then, their win in the final against the Netherlands.

Shortly after the nation's World Cup victory, the city council of Carballiño, a town of 14,000 in northern Spain, made Paul an honorary citizen.

Mayor Carlos Montes traveled to Oberhausen last week to hand-deliver the honour to Paul.

England have opened negotiations with Paul's agent, English-based Chris Davies, but have reports in Germany that if they are successful in securing his services then he will swim with fellow ambassador David Beckham are believed to be incorrect.

Paul has become an international superstar since the World Cup.

He recently spearheaded an advertising campaign for a German supermarket chain Rewe, one of more than 160 offers he has received since the end of the tournament in South Africa.

The advert featured Paul atop a transparent box after snatching a mussel from inside.

Paul chose the Rewe box, naturally.
 
A soft toy of him is currently in production and there is even an autobiography in the pipeline.

But Paul is not so popular everywhere.

Earlier this week Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Paul of spreading "western propaganda and
superstition" and posing as a symbol of "decadence and decay".

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