Paul the octopus, who lives at the Sea Life Aquarium in western Germany, makes his prediction by picking food from containers marked with the flags of the two teams.

Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans have become believers in Paul's possible psychic powers.

"This is not a good omen," wrote Bild newspaper's online edition after the news of Paul's pick flashed across Germany two days before the game.

Even the supposed magic of Germany coach Joachim Loew's lucky blue sweater could counter the mystic mollusc's prediction.

Loew admitted on Monday he will not wash a favorite blue sweater as long as his team keeps winning. Loew said he bowed to pressure from other coaching staff and players to keep wearing the sweater for their matches.

Every time Loew wore the blue V-neck sweater Germany scored four goals. "I am not even allowed to wash it now and I think I will wear it again (against Spain)," Loew said on Monday.

The octopus has turned into an international celebrity after accurately picking the winner of all five German World Cup matches to date — including their 1-0 loss to Serbia.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's attempt at countering the octopus' oracle by saying  Germany will beat Spain 2-1 also flopped.

Paul's only inaccurate pick so far was when it picked Germany over Spain at the Euro in 2008. Spain won 1-0 in that tournament, but he has never been wrong since and has an overall record of 9-1.

Paul was born in England. He has been five for five at the World Cup. He picked Germany wins over Australia, Ghana, England and Argentina — as well as their Group D loss to Serbia.