Skip to main content

Penalty is in the past, Croatia looking forward

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS LEHOURITES
AP Sports Writer

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — The controversial penalty that ruined Croatia’s chances of scoring an upset win in the World Cup’s opening match is now in the past, and Cameroon is in the immediate future.

The teams will meet Wednesday at the Arena da Amazonia in the Brazilian rainforest, and the team that can better cope with the hot and humid conditions will likely to be the one to leave town with three points — something both countries could really use after opening losses.

Both squads head into the game with injury concerns, but Croatia midfielder Luka Modric appears to be on the mend. For Cameroon, striker Samuel Eto’o missed two days of practice, putting him in doubt for a starting spot.

The Croatians lost 3-1 to Brazil on Thursday, but the game turned in the second half when referee Yuichi Nishimura awarded a soft penalty to Brazil when the score was 1-1.

Croatia coach Niko Kovac called it a “shameful” decision, but he soon moved on to thinking about the all-important game against Cameroon.

“What we have showed on the (field) was great,” Kovac said. “What I can see in players’ eyes is their desire to make up for what we have lost in the opener.”

Cameroon lost its opening Group A match 1-0 to Mexico. Another loss for either the Cameroonians or the Croatians is likely to mean an early exit from this year’s tournament.

Cameroon was the first African team to reach the quarterfinals at a World Cup, progressing that far in 1990 after beating defending champion Argentina in the opening match. But they headed to Brazil this year after a player bonus pay dispute, delaying their arrival in the South American country.

Off-field troubles aside, Cameroon coach Volker Finke is fixated on fixing what went wrong against Mexico.

“We will analyze this together because the match against Croatia is very important if we want to stay alive,” said Finke, perhaps even understating how critical a win is with Brazil waiting in the final group match.

Besides worrying about an early exit, both teams will also be wary of playing in the heat of the Amazon.

Italy beat England 2-1 in the first match at the Arena da Amazonia on Saturday, but the coaches from both teams complained about the conditions after the match.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli even said it was “absurd” that FIFA didn’t call for official timeouts to be used to give players a chance to rest and rehydrate.

The early forecast for Wednesday calls for more of the same, with a high of about 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) expected.

FIFA uses the “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature” to determine when official breaks should be added, and says the WGBT must be above 32 C (90 F) for cooling breaks to be considered.

Unless it gets even hotter by the time the match rolls around, players on both sides can expect another tough match in the jungle.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote