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Loew: Bench players will decide games in Brazil

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) — Players coming off the bench could have an unusually big impact on games at the World Cup because of the difficult weather conditions in Brazil, according to Germany coach Joachim Loew.

That means players shouldn’t necessarily think of being a substitute as a punishment, Loew said — rather it’s an opportunity to come on and decide the game against a tiring opposition in the second half.

“The second half will bring another stage of the match, that’s when the substitutes can make a difference,” Loew said. “At this World Cup it will be impossible to play an entire match with the 11 players who started.”

Germany plays its Group G games in Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza, where the weather is warm and humid. Loew says the climate will be a major factor in the tournament.

The German team opens against Portugal on Monday in Salvador, then plays Ghana on June 21 in Recife and the United States on June 26 in Fortaleza.

“We have very good conditions in our camp here and we’ve adjusted somewhat to the heat and humidity,” Loew said in his first news conference since Germany arrived in Brazil. “You have to adjust to these weather conditions but after three, four days you get used to it.”

Loew said he was pleased that his team picked the Atlantic coast for its base because the weather is similar to the conditions in match venues.

“At this World Cup, you will not only have to beat the rival, you will have to beat the kickoff times and the weather,” he said. “All 23 players have to be ready at an instant’s notice.”

Germany’s meticulous planning and preparation is legendary and the three-time champion appears not to be leaving anything to chance this time.

The team’s fully equipped practice ground, built from scratch, includes floodlights. The grass is exactly 22 millimeters long and the ground is on a north-south direction.

“This is the length of grass in all World Cup stadiums, and they all face the same direction,” Loew said. “We picked local grass because it grows a bit differently than in Europe, a little more sideways.”

Loew praised his team’s first opponent, saying Portugal was “world champion in counterattacking.”

He said Germany and Portugal were more or less evenly matched — “they rely a bit more on counterattacks, we like a little more possession.”

Germany opened the 2012 European Championship against Portugal and won 1-0. Both teams reached the semifinals.

Germany has not won the World Cup title since 1990. Under Loew, Germany lost the 2008 European final to Spain and was also beaten by the eventual champion in the 2010 World Cup semifinals.

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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