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Scolari: Brazil will be playing for nation, Neymar

By WTOP Staff

TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Neymar helped Brazil get this far at the World Cup. Now it’s up to the rest of the team to win for its injured star, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Monday.

Neymar will miss Tuesday’s semifinal against Germany because of a fractured bone in his back, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup and dealt a huge blow to the nation’s hopes for a title at home.

“Now we have to do our part,” Scolari said Monday. “We will be playing not only for ourselves, for our country, for our dreams, but each one of us will be playing a little for Neymar because of everything that he has done for us.”

Scolari said the team is over the shock of losing the player and has changed the focus to trying to get ready for the match against Germany. He said Neymar, who scored four goals in the group stage, had already done enough for the national team.

“When Neymar had to go, he left a lot of him with us and he took a lot of us with him,” Scolari said. “We are already done with this process of being sad. When Neymar himself began talking to the other players after what happened, they understood that he has done his part already.”

Scolari called Neymar “one of our references” and “one of the best in the world,” but he reminded that Brazil has “22 other players who know they are special.”

“We will miss Neymar’s competiveness, his happiness,” Scolari said. “But we have a group of quality players and they can overcome the challenges and help the team advance.”

Germany coach Joachim Loew said he expects Brazil to be extra motivated because of Neymar’s absence.

“I’m certain all the other players will be fighting for him, fighting for their nation,” Loew said.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva, who is suspended for the game, said the group will be playing with Neymar on their minds.

“Now it’s time for the other 22 players to take on the responsibility of playing well and getting the win, especially for him, who wanted to be here now but unfortunately was taken out of a World Cup because of a what I think was a cowardly challenge.”

Silva said the foul that took Neymar out of the World Cup, a knee in the back by Colombia’s Juan Camilo Zuniga late in the quarterfinal match against Colombia, was “not a normal move.”

“Being a defender I know how to defend and that type of defending doesn’t exist. It’s impossible to get your knee through someone to get to the ball on the other side. Unless you want to hit the other player. That’s not a normal match situation.”

FIFA earlier Tuesday said it will not take action against Zuniga.

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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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