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5 memorable World Cup chants

By WTOP Staff

KARL RITTER
Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — With “I believe that we will win!” American soccer fans finally have a World Cup chant that doesn’t just involve shouting their country’s name.

In terms of creativity, though, it’s a notch below Argentina’s elaborate sing-alongs or even the boisterous chants of the English.

All players can testify to the goose bump-inducing effect of thousands of fans joining together for a synchronized chant.

While most fans simply spell out the name of their country, from Chile’s “Chi-chi-chi Le-le-le” to Germany’s “Deutschland, Deutschland,” some have developed more creative chants that celebrate their own teams while poking fun at their opponents.

The trick is to be cheeky without being offensive; national team chants are usually less vulgar than those sung by fans of club teams around the world.

Here’s a look at five prominent chants from supporters of World Cup teams in Brazil:

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I AM BRAZILIAN

Besides their deafening rendition of the national anthem, Brazilian fans haven’t really used their home-ground advantage to out-sing the opposing fans. One exception is when they join together to sing “I am Brazilian, with a lot of pride and a lot of love.” The song was written 65 years ago by a Brazilian high school teacher for a match between his students and ones from Germany. But the chant has recently fallen into disgrace by fans who judge its lyrics outdated and lacking the rhythmic verve for which Brazilian music is known. At this World Cup, some determined fans handed out cheat sheets ahead of games containing lyrics to proposed alternatives. So far none have caught on.

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BRAZIL, HOW DOES IT FEEL?

Argentina, Brazil’s historical rival, clearly has the upper hand when it comes to vocal support from the fans. The Argentine fans have an impressive repertoire of chants and even came up with a new one specifically tailored for the World Cup in Brazil. To a tune that sounds like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising,” the song asks Brazil how it feels “to have daddy in your house.” Something’s lost in the translation from Spanish, but it implies that Argentina is the greater of the two football powers (despite Brazil’s 5-2 edge in World Cup titles). The song recalls Argentine high-points in its rivalry with Brazil, including the goal by Claudio Caniggia that kicked Brazil out of the 1990 World Cup. Like many Argentine chants, it ends with the claim that “Maradona is greater than Pele.”

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MEXICO’S GOAL-KICK SLUR

The one-word chant that Mexican fans shout during goal kicks has just one purpose: to taunt the opposing goalkeeper. The two-syllable word literally means male prostitute but has various interpretations in Spanish. After the chant was heard at Mexico’s games in Brazil, FIFA opened a disciplinary case against the Mexican federation, which is responsible for the behavior of its fans inside stadiums. However, the world football body didn’t take any action saying “it is not considered insulting in this specific context.” Annoyed that FIFA even investigated the matter, Mexican fans briefly changed the chant to “Pepsi,” the main competitor of a major World Cup sponsor.

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TWO WORLD WARS AND ONE WORLD CUP

Sung to the tune of “Camptown Races,” this English chant references England’s 20th century victories over Germany, and epitomizes the lager-lout chauvinism and cheeky sense of humor that are hallmarks of the country’s chants. It ignores the contributions of England’s allies in both world wars and the fact that England hasn’t won any major title since the 1966 World Cup, but English fans don’t care. Beer cup in hand, they belt out “Two world wars and one World Cup” as if Britannia still ruled the waves, the skies and everything in between. The irony of the song is that the chief reason Germany cannot avenge its defeat in 1966 is that England keeps getting knocked out of World Cups early.

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I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!

Shouted by fans in various sports in the U.S., this straightforward chant has become the anthem of Americans supporting the U.S. team in Brazil. It’s been promoted by ESPN and the American Outlaws supporters group and has been very loud at the World Cup grounds when the U.S. is playing. The message may be a bit plain, but repeated over and over with a steady rhythm, the chant becomes infectious, particularly when accompanied by samba drums. And it’s given U.S. fans an alternative to the basic “U-S-A, U-S-A” chant.

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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