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Fans expect Brazil to overcome loss of Neymar

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS LEHOURITES
AP Sports Writer

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Brazil did it once without Pele, and just about everyone in the country is waiting and hoping to do it again without Neymar.

The Brazilians advanced to the semifinals of the World Cup last week, but they lost their best player in doing so. Neymar, the national team’s star attraction with the same yellow No. 10 shirt that Pele made world famous, broke a vertebra after being kneed in the back and will miss the rest of the tournament.

That means Brazil will have to do without Neymar’s quick moves and sharp shooting when the team plays Germany in the semifinals on Tuesday at Mineirao Stadium. And for the final, if they make it that far.

“It will be difficult, but we can win it without Neymar,” said Matheus Christoff, a 22-year-old chemical engineering student from Belo Horizonte. “In 1962, we won without Pele, so we can win without Neymar.”

Pele became a global star when he was only 17, scoring two goals in the 1958 final to give Brazil its first World Cup title. Four years later in Chile, he was injured in the opening round and was forced to sit and watch as his teammates won again.

But win they did, with Garrincha stepping up to carry the load.

This time around, there is no obvious goal-scoring replacement for Neymar, who cuts his hair in a fauxhawk and has become the face of the World Cup, at least on billboards and in TV commercials all over Brazil.

Or, instead of one person stepping up to provide the goals, maybe there is more than one.

“They have another 22 players,” said Patricia Mendes, a 35-year-old consultant in Belo Horizonte. “If they wear the yellow jersey, they can score.”

Neymar did most of the damage himself in the first round, scoring four goals in the opening three matches to put Brazil at the top of Group A. The two strikers playing alongside him, Fred and Hulk, have combined to score only one goal, while defender David Luiz has provided the offense by scoring two in the last two matches.

A slumbering attack, now without its most important component, is going to make it hard against the Germans, who seem to have put their defense back together after a substandard performance in the second round. And the loss of Brazil captain Thiago Silva, who is suspended for the match after foolishly picking up a yellow card in the quarterfinal win over Colombia, is going to make things even tougher.

“I really don’t think we can win without Neymar and Thiago Silva,” said 23-year-old Rafael Seixas, who works at his family’s convenience store in Belo Horizonte. “They are the best players in the team, and Germany is really good.”

The thought of losing to Germany, however odious that may be for most Brazilians, is still better than considering one other possibility of this year’s World Cup — an ultimate victory for Argentina on Sunday at the Maracana Stadium.

“That,” Seixas said, “would be the worst possible scenario for the World Cup in Brazil.”

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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