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At 22, Courtois among best World Cup goalies

By WTOP Staff

RAF CASERT
AP Sports Writer

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) — At the age of 22, Thibaut Courtois already has a pile of silverware and a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

So when it comes to the World Cup, Belgium’s No. 1 is a rookie in name only.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots rattled off the list of honors Courtois has collected since he played his first game for Racing Genk at age 16, right up to last month’s Champions League final with Atletico Madrid: “Look at where he plays, his development. Champion at Genk, then you win UEFA Cup, then the Super Cup, Champions League final, and you win the Spanish league title,” he said with a staccato rhythm, surely forgetting a few honors in between.

As a measure of his stature, Courtois is the undisputed No. 1 goalie for Tuesday’s game against Algeria even if Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet, coming off a great season himself, is ready to step in whenever needed.

With some saying talented players shouldn’t leave their home country too early, Courtois is proof that it can be done.

At 19 he was a stranger in the city of Madrid. Two years later, his Spanish was fluent, and his goalkeeping without compare in a nation that has a World Cup winner in Iker Casillas. Courtois was given the top goalkeeping award in Spain for the past two years.

The daring move to Spain as a teenager by way of Chelsea is already paying dividends. Among his many attributes, hs calmness under pressure is among the most impressive.

Nowhere is that more important than at a World Cup.

“If you go abroad quickly and are able to play such games with Atletico, then you know what to expect here. Others might have more nerves,” he said.

Wilmots said that “he always stays cool and collected. He feels no pressure and he is hungry.”

Even after a year that was capped by winning the Spanish league title at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in the last round.

Courtois was looking at a perfect season until Real Madrid equalized in injury time in the Champions League final before sweeping past its crosstown rival 4-1 in extra time.

Courtois, though, is young and moving fast, looking forward to his biggest challenge yet.

“I’ve been looking forward to this as of my last match with Atletico,” he said.

Beyond his poise, what stands out is his appearance. At 1.99 meters (6-foot-6), he can’t hide he is a child of two Belgian top class volleyball players. He can pluck crosses out of the air with consummate ease, leaving the biggest forwards all too often waiting in vain for the ball.

Add to that an uncanny speed for such a tall athlete to get down on the grass to swat out low drives. And for purists, there is little as graceful as to see him flying through the air to tip high balls over or wide.

To understand what to expect at the World Cup, Courtois did his homework by asking Altetico teammate Diego Godin.

The Uruguay central defender already had his World Cup moment, playing in the semifinals in Cape Town four years ago.

“He said his semifinal in South Africa could be compared to the final of the Champions League,” Courtois said.

So, been there, done that.

“I can picture it when I look to the intensity,” he said.

If Courtois excels here, he could become the third Belgian to win the Lev Yashin trophy as best World Cup goalie after Jean-Marie Pfaff did it in 1986 and Michel Preud’homme in 1994.

Strangely enough, though, it is not a Belgian Courtois has been looking up to.

His hero always was Edwin van der Sar of the Netherlands, Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United. The equally tall Van der Sar got as far as the World Cup semifinals in 1998.

“I always looked up to him,” Courtois said. “Our styles resemble, so does our build.”

___

Follow Raf Casert on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rcasert

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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