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While upbeat, Gerrard warns about pain of failure

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

SAO PAULO (AP) — At England’s beachside hotel in Rio de Janeiro it was captain Steven Gerrard who tried to raise the spirits of his demoralized teammates. They hadn’t been outplayed by Italy in their World Cup opener — far from it — but still go into Thursday’s game with Uruguay on zero points in Group D.

Addressing the squad, Gerrard told them to be “really proud of the effort and commitment,” but the 112-cap veteran also delivered a warning: lose against Uruguay and they are bound to be back on the plane to England next week.

“Realize it could be a terrible long, frustrating summer if we don’t get it right on Thursday,” Gerrard recalled telling the team on Sunday night.

“There is no hiding place for a player when you go out of a tournament. You go home earlier than you expect. It can be tough as a player and it can take an awful long time to get over it.”

Gerrard knows that only too well, having never progressed further than the quarterfinals at two World Cups and two European Championships with England.

“It wasn’t a message to scare any of the lads but a wake-up call to everyone in the room, staff, players,” Gerrard said. “That is the reality of where we are and we need everyone focused and right on it to perform individually and collectively on Thursday.”

There is confidence in the England camp, with the players taking heart from the glowing praise back home following the spirited attacking endeavor displayed by the newcomers in the 2-1 loss to Italy.

“Two years ago against the same opposition in Italy we got criticized for being on the edge of our own box, showing no bravery or ambition going forward,” Gerrard said. “Anyone who watched Saturday’s game can’t point a finger at England for lacking commitment, desire, guts and bravery going forward.

“For me the key in this game is how we defend because Uruguay’s strengths are in their front players: (Edinson) Cavani, (Luis) Suarez, (Diego) Forlan, (Gaston) Ramires,” the 34-year-old midfielder said. “They are the key players who can hurt this England team.”

But England looked susceptible at the back against Italy, with Leighton Baines exposed on the left flank in the build up to Mario Balotelli’s winner.

“It is no good us being really good going forward on the break if we can’t defend properly,” Gerrard said.

Like England, Uruguay has no points after opening with a surprise 3-1 loss to Costa Rica. Gerrard has inside knowledge of the threat pose by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, a teammate at Liverpool who scored 31 times in the Premier League last season but is now recovering from surgery on his left knee.

“(From) having a bit of banter with Luis I get the impression he is going to play and he is looking forward to it,” Gerrard said. “I know him better than most that he will be desperate to play well and score.”

Just as desperate as Gerrard is not to leave Brazil after the group stage, knowing it could be his last tournament with England.

“When you get to this age you want to try and appreciate and savor every moment and try and achieve everything that is in your grasp,” he said. “It is my last World Cup that’s for sure, 100 percent, and time is running out as an England player.”

___

Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris

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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