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Pirlo and Balotelli provide Italy class and power

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — Pure class and pure power. Skill and strength. Creative vision and clinical finishing.

Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are a study in contrasts on the football pitch. And off it.

Together, they provide Italy with two distinct weapons and on Saturday both players stood out in a 2-1 win over England at the World Cup.

Pirlo set up Italy’s opening goal without even touching the ball, Balotelli headed in the winner early in the second half, and Pirlo then nearly scored himself in stoppage time, slamming a free kick from 30 meters (yards) off the top of the crossbar.

“We take our hats off to their skill,” England coach Roy Hodgson said.

It was an evening reminiscent of the 2012 European Championship, when Pirlo and Balotelli combined to lead Italy to the final.

This time, after a few errant passes from Pirlo, the midfield maestro broke open the match by stepping over a cross and fooling the England defenders to let Claudio Marchisio fire in from long-range in the 35th minute.

“Pirlo is a player who can add quality in every area of the pitch,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. “Whether it’s a tight triangle, going far forward or whatever, he can handle himself in any area.”

At 35, Pirlo is a veteran of the Italy squad that won the 2006 title and was wearing the captain’s armband for this match in place of injured Gianluigi Buffon. Modest and quiet, his personality couldn’t be farther from the brashness that the 23-year-old Balotelli displays.

But brashness can often be a positive trait for a striker.

When England equalized two minutes after Marchisio’s goal, Balotelli showed his nose for the goal by attempting a sharply angled lob shot after drawing goalkeeper Joe Hart out of position in first-half added time. England defender Phil Jagielka headed away the danger but that only seemed to increase Balotelli’s appetite.

Five minutes into the second half, the AC Milan forward finally found the target, eluding Gary Cahill to head in by the far post following superb work down the right flank and a perfect cross from Antonio Candreva.

“I’m really happy. It’s a special feeling,” said Balotelli, who proposed to his Belgian girlfriend at the beginning of the week. “I’ve never played in a World Cup and it’s fantastic. I dedicate this victory to my future wife, who is here, to my family, and to my friends.”

Balotelli hadn’t scored for Italy since October but the enigmatic striker now has 13 goals in 30 appearances for the Azzurri and has silenced any doubts about his first-choice status.

Ciro Immobile had been pushing Balotelli for the center forward spot after leading Serie A with 22 goals and scoring a hat trick in a warmup match last weekend against top-flight Brazilian club Fluminense.

“I think (Balotelli) can score many more,” Prandelli said. “I’ve said it before. He has enormous potential. He needs to convince himself that his movements up front are decisive enough to finish actions. He gave everything he had but I’m convinced he has margins for improvement.”

When Immobile replaced Balotelli in the 73rd, the crowd at the Arena Amazonia showered him with a loud applause. And when the final whistle blew, Balotelli put his finger to his lips as if to silence the criticism he routinely faces. Then he winked to a TV camera.

Born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and raised by Italian foster parents, Balotelli is also subjected to racism constantly back home.

Before kickoff Saturday, Balotelli tweeted, “ITALIANS. Whatever squad you support, today there is only the Azzurra squad! Hate, jealousy, contempt, let’s put it all aside and ALL be united!”

United with Pirlo, Balotelli and Italy are tough to beat.

___

Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf

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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