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Sneak preview: Brazil tops Argentina for World Cup

By WTOP Staff

RAF CASERT
AP Sports Writer

BRUSSELS (AP) — Maracana is filled to bursting for the World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina. If ever there’s home advantage, this is it.

The date? July 13, 2014, and Brazil doesn’t fail its fans, lifting the trophy.

Well, that’s how Brazil’s fanatic fans see the next six weeks unfurling.

Sixty-four years after a stunned home crowd watched its beloved team beaten 2-1 by another neighbor, Uruguay, in the World Cup decider, Brazil gets a second chance in 2014.

In between times, Brazil has become the standard in football, winning a record five titles. All of its stars have become global citizens, competing for the biggest clubs in the world, where they are exposed to stress and the toughest opposition on a weekly basis. The coach himself, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has been there before, leading the Selecao to their last World Cup in Yokohama in 2002.

All that experience matched with such skill was enough for victory.

Staring into the eyes of Brazil captain Thiago Silva at the toss was Lionel Messi, making Argentina the second part of the first all-South American clash for the World Cup trophy since 1950.

Messi had his own quest. Just like Diego Maradona, he needed a World Cup title to reach the ultimate accolade of greatness. Had he beaten Brazil, he would have been the first player to almost singlehandedly win the World Cup since Maradona did it in 1986.

Bent on redemption after being largely inconsequential at the 2010 World Cup, Messi’s pride carried him this far into the tournament. He came in with only one World Cup goal and added to that, but he failed to fully switch gears from a lackluster campaign with Barcelona to a sterling one with Argentina.

Did such a final mean that the continental pendulum had fully swung back South America’s way? Not really. Ever since the 1934 World Cup, European teams had at least half of the final four spots and it was no different here. The Old Continent was still there in the semifinals, with Germany and Spain.

Germany, though, came to the end of the line with its super-solid coach Joachim Loew. He finished in the top four in four attempts at major tournaments, a superb accomplishment for anyone. But when you are at the head of the mighty Mannschaft, titles are expected. Germany was done in by the weight of injuries this time.

With Sami Khedira barely back from a six-month layoff and three Bayern Munich veterans, including captain Philipp Lahm, struggling to get into World Cup form, it was all too much.

Injuries may heal, age cannot be fixed. And in the end it was the downfall of Spain. Xavi, 34, was a driving force as Spain won the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup, but another final was beyond reach. A lot of hope was vested in Diego Costa, but, even with horse placenta treatment, a muscle tear in his right leg made him a non-factor.

Injuries also turned a Latin American festival into a little less than that. Colombia was looking mighty good when Radamel Falcao was its leader and lethal striker. El Tigre underwent surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January and started a race to get ready for the World Cup. Unfortunately, the world’s premier sports tournament has no soft spot for recovering stars.

And so it went, too, with Uruguay and its star Luis Suarez. The striker underwent knee surgery in the run-up to the World Cup and was unable to show the skills that earned him an English Premier League-leading 31 goals for Liverpool and the player of the year title.

But even healthy, it can be too much for one player alone to carry a team. Cristiano Ronaldo almost singlehandedly took Portugal to the World Cup with a sterling performance of skills and leadership in the playoffs against Sweden.

But when the best assets for Ronaldo are Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles, it was just not enough magic to make the semifinals.

Instead, the surprise team was Belgium, with its mix of creativity from Eden Hazard and goalkeeping prowess of Thibaut Courtois.

That’s how it went. As predictable as football has always been.

Well, maybe.

On the morning of the decisive 1950 match in Rio, one Brazilian newpaper, O Mundo, already carried the title “We are the World Champions” and almost all fans in Brazil acted likewise for days. We all know what happened.

___

Follow Raf Casert on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rcasert

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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