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US and Algeria in, Suarez out of World Cup

By WTOP Staff

TREVOR HUGGINS
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As Luis Suarez prepared to leave the World Cup in disgrace, Americans and Algerians were celebrating their places in the knockout rounds on a dramatic final day of the group stage on Thursday.

While some form of suspension for Suarez was guaranteed after the Uruguay striker bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder, few would have predicted one of the longest bans in the tournament’s history — nine international matches and four months from all football.

It was his third ban for biting after previous incidents in England and the Netherlands, and given the comments made by FIFA, it’s hard to see the Uruguayan football federation making much headway with its appeal.

“Such behavior cannot be tolerated on any football pitch and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement.

Several hundred Uruguayans, including President Jose Mujica, gathered at Montevideo’s airport to wait for Suarez’s return.

While he may no longer be in Brazil, his peers in Neymar of Brazil and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are still very much in the tournament — as are the United States and Algeria, which has finally reached the last 16 for the first time in its history.

The U.S. lost 1-0 to Germany on Thursday in its last match in Group G, but it still managed to qualify and line up a second-round game against Belgium on Tuesday in Salvador.

Ghana, which had a more realistic chance of beating the U.S. to second place behind the already-qualified German, missed its chance in a 2-1 defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Ronaldo scored the winner in a pyrrhic victory for what the world player of the year has accurately described as “probably just an average team.”

He now joins England’s Wayne Rooney and Italy’s Mario Balotelli as the star also-rans in a tournament that has sprung plenty of surprises.

Germany will play Algeria in Porto Alegre on Monday, a match that comes with some emotional baggage.

At the 1982 World Cup, Germany denied Algeria a place in the second round by playing out an infamous match with Austria that finished 1-0 to the Germans. The result, achieved by just knocking the ball around after the goal had been scored, qualified the European neighbors and sent the Algerians home.

Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Russia has not only helped Algeria turn the page on one of the tournament’s darkest moments, it has also offered a chance to rip the page out completely with an unlikely revenge victory on Monday.

The end of the group stage has, meanwhile, underlined just how well the tournament has gone for teams from the Americas — which have filled half of the last 16 slots — and how big the disappointment has been for Europe and Asia.

For a second World Cup running, only six European teams have advanced — Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Greece — the joint-lowest figure since this format was introduced in 1986.

Africa has two representatives, Algeria and Nigeria, while a debacle for Asia has seen all four teams fall at the first hurdle.

After a rest day on Friday, the action restarts on Saturday with two matches — when host Brazil takes on Chile in Belo Horizonte and Colombia faces Uruguay in Rio. Neymar will be at the heart of the action in the Belo Horizonte, while Suarez will only be a spectator.

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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