England coach Fabio Capello emerged from his meeting with FA bosses at Lancaster Gate yesterday knowing that his job was safe - for the moment, at least - but surprised many with his astonishing assertion that the team had underperformed because of the predictions of Paul the Octopus.
Paul, said Capello, had predicted that Germany would beat England, and that, together with his previous correct predictions, weighed heavily on the minds of the players, who then buckled under the pressure exerted upon them by the octopus.
John Terry was one cited by Capello as particularly prone to Paul's pessimistic predictions. Said the Italian:
"John Terry was a bag of nerves. He's very superstitious. When Paul predicted a Germany win, the dressing room became a place with no hope. It was like being on a U-boat when it is under attack - nobody spoke. It was like finding out that you're going to die, and, of course, we did."
Paul the Octopus is widely expected to become the next England manager at a meeting with FA top brass at Lancaster Gate next week.
