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Winner takes all as Italy faces Uruguay

By WTOP Staff

TREVOR HUGGINS
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It’s Day Two of the in-or-out matches of the World Cup, with five teams competing for two places in the knockout stages.

Group D winds up in the two early fixtures, with Group C following later. Each pair of games is played simultaneously.

The highlight of the early matches is Italy’s game against Uruguay, a contest between two former world champions that will see the winner go through to the second round.

Meanwhile, a Costa Rica side that has already qualified for the last 16 against the odds takes on an England team that has booked its flight home.

There are far more permutations to the later games in Group C. Colombia is certain to advance but its opponents Japan, along with Ivory Coast and Greece who meet in the other match, all still have a chance of qualifying.

Things to watch for Tuesday:

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NEW FACES

Both coaches are likely to make changes for Costa Rica’s game against England — with Jorge Luis Pinto resting a couple of players and Roy Hodgson giving reserve players a chance.

Pinto says he will make two changes, adding Roy Miller and Randall Brenes, without saying who will drop to the bench. “We’re not going to change the basic structure overnight,” Pinto said. “But we want improve a few things that weren’t working well.”

For England, 20-year-old midfielder Ross Barkley is expected to start along with Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw.

The team’s exit from the tournament isn’t the only bad omen for Hodgson’s men ahead of Tuesday’s game. The match is being played in Belo Horizonte, where England lost 1-0 to the United States in 1950 — still one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Venue: Belo Horizonte. Kickoff 1 p.m. local time (noon in New York, 5 p.m. London, 1 a.m. Tokyo)

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SUAREZ TO SHINE?

Uruguay and Italy meet to decide who stays and who follows England home from Group D. Italy, the 2006 World Cup winner, goes into the game after a humbling 1-0 defeat by Costa Rica, while Uruguay’s players will be on a high after beating England.

Luis Suarez scored both Uruguay’s goals in that 2-1 victory and will again be the man to watch, for spectators and Italian defenders alike. A striker who needs only a half-chance to score, his finishing skills have clearly not been dimmed by surgery last month.

However, Italy’s ability to defend is legendary in the world game and the Azzurri only need a draw to go through.

The match could turn on a counterattack launched by Andrea Pirlo as Uruguay push forward in search of a second-half winner, should the game be deadlocked at halftime.

Venue: Natal. Kickoff 1 p.m. local time (noon in New York, 5 p.m. London, 1 a.m. Tokyo)

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COLOMBIA CLOSES IN

Already assured of a place in the second round, Colombia can secure top spot in Group C with at least a draw against a mediocre Japan side that has only taken one point from two games.

Tipped to have a good World Cup, Colombia has lived up to expectations and should have no difficulty finishing the job on Tuesday.

The team should also be able to count on their 12th man — the highly vocal Colombian fans who have packed the stadiums in Belo Horizonte and Brasilia.

“It’s incredible,” midfielder James Rodriguez told FIFA.com. “I know we’re playing in Brazil but it feels like we’re at home. With fans like these, we can go far.”

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni must decide whether to start with playmaker and star celebrity Shinji Kagawa, who was dropped for the 0-0 draw against Greece after making little impact in the opening 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast.

Venue: Cuiaba. Kickoff 4 p.m. local time (4 p.m. in New York, 9 p.m. in London, 5 a.m. in Tokyo).

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GREECE’S LAST CHANCE

Ivory Coast’s game against Greece will probably be a much tighter affair, with a victory for the West Africans guaranteeing them a place in the knockout stage. A win for the Greeks would see them through if Japan fails to beat Colombia.

For Yaya and Kolo Toure, Cameroon’s match will be the first since the death of their brother Ibrahim last week in England. Having decided to stay on at the World Cup, Yaya will start in midfield, with defender Kolo probably on the bench.

Veteran striker Didier Drogba is set for another cameo as a second-half substitute.

For Greece’s players, the challenge is to do something they haven’t managed up to now in Brazil: score a goal.

Venue: Fortaleza. Kickoff 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. in New York, 9 p.m. in London, 5 a.m. in Tokyo).

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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