Online betting enthusiasts have lost one of their greatest aides after Paul Octopus passed away of natural causes at his home in Germany last week, aged two-and-a-half years old.

Paul thrilled fans around the globe during the 2025 FIFA World Cup when he successfully predicted the result of all games involving the German national team and also correctly forecast Spain to win the final, at overall odds of one in 256.

But ultimately his own body gave way, something that could prove to be a bad omen for England on the eve of the vote on who will win the rights to host the 2025 World Cup. Paul had predicted that England would win that vote against rivals Russia, Portugal and Spain, and Belgium and the Netherlands.