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France’s new faces keen to shine at World Cup

By WTOP Staff

JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer

RIBEIRAO PRETO, Brazil (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps has freshened up his World Cup squad with some new faces as he keeps one eye on the future.

Young wingers Antoine Griezmann and Remy Cabella hope to get their chance to shine in France’s attack, while Morgan Schneiderlin offers some welcome cover in midfield.

Even if they don’t play much in Brazil, they’ll have picked up valuable experience ahead of the European Championship on home soil in 2016.

When winger Franck Ribery and midfielder Clement Grenier were ruled out of the World Cup at the last minute because of injuries, Cabella and Schneiderlin got an unexpected opening.

They were on the standby list and had almost no international experience, save for Cabella’s brief substitute appearance in the 4-0 win against Norway two weeks ago.

Griezmann was already in Deschamps’ 23-man squad, and has made a strong start to his international career, scoring three goals in three appearances, two of those as a substitute. Although the opposition was weak in last Sunday’s 8-0 rout of Jamaica, the way the Real Sociedad winger took his two chances was particularly impressive.

For the first, he controlled a loose ball in the penalty area, turned and coolly picked his spot. The second was even better, a classy backheel flick after making a front-post run.

Griezmann made his full debut against the Netherlands in March and had a quiet game, but one moment caught the eye and underlined his unselfish mentality.

Breaking into the penalty area, he had a chance to shoot from a tight angle. Instead, he paused and waited for striker Olivier Giroud to reach the penalty spot.

Even though his pass was slightly behind Giroud, the intention was clear.

With the World Cup squad announcement only two months away, Griezmann was on his debut and could have gone for glory in a bid to impress Deschamps. But he was more interested in setting up a teammate, and Giroud noticeably applauded the effort.

Deschamps, who has instilled a strong team ethic, doubtless appreciated it, too.

The 23-year-old Griezmann, who has excellent ball control and mobility, scored 16 league goals last season.

He had jeopardized his international future because of a past incident.

In October 2012, Griezmann was among a group of under-21 players who left their training camp and drove two hours to go to a Paris nightclub and back between two playoff games against Norway for the 2013 European Championship. France lost 5-3.

Griezmann apologized and served out his one-year suspension without complaint. Once it was over, Deschamps called him up straight away to face the Dutch.

The 24-year-old Cabella’s rise to prominence has been equally impressive, and he is expected to leave Montpellier for a bigger club next season.

Although nowhere the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo, he tries to play the same way as his idol, his lithe frame allowing him to make darting runs, his quick feet dazzling opponents.

He burst onto the scene during the 2011-12 season, helping Montpellier win the French league title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in one of the greatest upsets in French football. Back then, he was a provider for Giroud, who finished as the league’s top scorer to earn a move to Premier League side Arsenal.

Cabella came into his own last season. The fact he scored 14 league goals from the wing in a team finishing three points above the relegation zone is testimony to his ability and determination.

Schneiderlin made a brave decision when he was 18 years old, moving to England despite playing just five games for second-division Strasbourg.

He joined Southampton, then in England’s second-tier Championship, and was relegated.

After one season in the drudgery of third-tier English football, he helped Saints gain back-to-back promotions and his performances in the Premier League over the past two seasons have drawn praise.

The 24-year-old Schneiderlin has good composure and is a tidy passer who chips in with the odd goal, scoring seven times over the past two league seasons.

He has left his options open with regards to a move this summer, and some good World Cup performances will further his chances of joining a big club.

France opens its campaign in Group E on Sunday against Honduras, before going on to face Switzerland and Ecuador.

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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