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Xavi Hernandez retires from Spanish national team

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Xavi Hernandez, Spain’s leading playmaker in its run of three major titles, has retired from international duty after a disappointing World Cup.

Flanked by fellow Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, Xavi was the key component of Spain’s tiki-taka passing style during its unprecedented run of winning the World Cup in 2010 and two European championships in 2008 and 2012.

“I have taken the decision to leave the selection,” the 34-year-old Xavi said. “I think my time has ended.”

He was voted the best player of the 2008 European championship. In that final he made the critical pass to Fernando Torres to score the winning goal in its 1-0 win over Germany.

“It has been a marvelous time, a fantastic time for me, and I am proud of being here so many years and for all the victories,” said Xavi. “My time is over. I wish (the rest of the team) the best. From now on I will be another fan of the national team.”

Xavi said that he had planned to leave the team after helping it defend the European title in 2012, but Spain coach Vicente del Bosque persuaded him to stay on through the World Cup in Brazil.

But Spain flopped at this summer’s World Cup, losing its first two games and subsequently exiting the competition in the group stage. Xavi said being benched for that second match against Chile was key in his decision to retire from international duty.

“We have lost a one-of-a-kind player,” said del Bosque. “He has been the man who was key to our style of play that has brought us so much success. We will miss him both on and off the pitch.”

Xavi made 133 appearances for Spain, earning 100 victories.

He said he will continue to play for Barcelona, with two years remaining on his current contract.

Xavi said that he had come close to leaving Barcelona after former coach Gerardo Martino overlooked him in the final game of last season when Barcelona lost the Spanish league title to Atletico Madrid. The arrival of former player Luis Enrique to replace Martino played a part in Xavi staying.

“I finished last seasons a little disappointed,” said Xavi. “I experienced two of my biggest disappointments, both on a personal and collective level, maybe the worst of my career… That’s when I decided, abruptly, to tell the club that it would be best to leave.

“(But) I went on holiday and spoke with (sports director Andoni) Zubizarreta and Luis Enrique, and they made me see that I could still be important, useful and competitive.”

Barcelona host Elche in the opening game of the new season on August 24.

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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