YEKATERINBURG, Russia, July 15, 2010: Russia and Germany's leaders ate a "brother in arms" of soothsaying World Cup octopus Paul at a pre-summit dinner, President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.
Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel enjoyed the seafood delicacy as another top Russian official laid the blame on Germany's failure to progress to the World Cup final squarely on the clairvoyant octopus.
"I was supporting Germany and I saw how you supported your team," Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told Merkel at a meeting of business leaders on the sidelines of the Germany-Russia summit.
"Of course, if it was not for Paul -- you know who I am talking about, Paul the octopus -- then everything would have been fine," he added.
Medvedev then remembered: "We ate his brother in arms last night at the restaurant."
"I do not want to offend anyone but most of the Russian delegation were really supporting the German team. But it is not our fault (that Germany failed to win). Others are to blame," the president added.
Paul earned superstar status by correctly predicting the results of all of Germany's games, including its semi-final defeat to Spain. He also was right in forecasting Spain's victory in the final.
The cephalopod's home, an aquarium in western Germany, has said it has received death-threat emails saying, "We want Paul for the pan".
Paul did not have to use his psychic powers on Russia after the Russian team failed to qualify for the finals in South Africa.