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Pogba gets big-match World Cup goal France needed

By WTOP Staff

JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Paul Pogba finally delivered the big-game goal that France needed from its most exciting young talent, picking his spot with a late header to help his team beat Nigeria 2-0 and reach the World Cup quarterfinals.

The 21-year-old Pogba had been feeling the pressure at the World Cup, and that seemed set to continue Monday when he rushed a chance to put France ahead in a tightly-contested first half.

But Pogba, who was dropped by coach Didier Deschamps for the 5-2 win group-stage win over Switzerland, found the ideal time to score.

Showing the kind of poise that Deschamps counted on him to provide, Pogba peeled slightly off a packed Nigeria defense to give himself a yard to attack the loose ball after goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama fumbled a corner in the 79th minute.

Overwhelmed with relief at finally scoring his first goal of the tournament, Pogba shed a tear after the final whistle before being mobbed by his teammates.

“I was man of the match today but if I could give it to all the players I would. It’s because of them that we won,” he said. “We know we’re capable of playing our best and playing our worst, but today we were good. We are the French national team and we are not afraid of anyone.”

Pogba had set himself apart for different reasons earlier in the tournament.

In the opening match against Honduras, he was lucky not to be sent off for kicking out angrily at fellow midfielder Wilson Palacios after he had been fouled. That prompted rebukes from Deschamps, defender Patrice Evra and captain Hugo Lloris — all of them saying Pogba needed to learn how to control his nerves better.

Then, in the 0-0 draw against Ecuador, he missed a glaring header from close range when totally unmarked. French critics made it clear they’d been expecting more from Pogba, who scored seven league goals for Italian champion Juventus last season.

“He’s young, criticism is part of life at the highest level and it can be unfair sometimes. But it will toughen him up,” Deschamps said. “Today he showed the huge potential he has when he plays a bit more simply. He should get the credit, but I have no doubts about his capacity to play at this level.”

Fellow midfielder Blaise Matuidi thinks Pogba had been putting too much pressure on himself to live up to pre-World Cup hype touting him as one of the potential stars of the tournament.

“I hope this goal releases him, but today he gave the best possible answer. He also puts himself under pressure, which he perhaps shouldn’t because he’s only 21,” Matuidi said. “Of course we need his talent and he gives us a lot, but he remains a young player and he’s allowed to make mistakes.”

Against Nigeria, Pogba won tackles easily but his ball distribution was lacking. He gave the ball away four times in the first 10 minutes by trying to play the perfect pass.

But the fact he was so easily in position to attempt those passes underlined the command he had in midfield.

“Paul is already playing at a very, very high level. Of course he can still improve a lot because he’s young and he’ll continue to learn,” Lloris said. “I think this goal will give him even more confidence. But, still, what’s he doing at his age is huge.”

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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