Skip to main content

Germany draws parallels to 1990 winning team

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) — Facing criticism at home for failing to find the beautiful game, Germany is drawing parallels to its 1990 World Cup campaign, when it won the last of its three titles.

Under coach Franz Beckenbauer in Italy, Germany got off to a rocket start, only to begin fading as the tournament grew long. But the Germans plodded through and beat Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rome to lift the title.

In this World Cup, Germany crushed Portugal 4-0 to open the tournament but is under fire from fans and media for a perceived lack of flair, especially after needing extra time to beat Algeria 2-1 and earn a ninth straight spot in the quarterfinals. Germany plays France on Friday in Rio de Janeiro.

Assistant coach Andreas Koepke recalled Wednesday how the team labored to win the 1990 title.

“Of course, we discussed this match (against Algeria) later among us and we were not beating around the bush,” Koepke said Wednesday. “But you are going to have such matches in a tournament. Look at 1990 and how it ended.”

Germany kicked off its 1990 campaign with a 4-1 victory over then highly touted Yugoslavia. It followed with a 5-1 demolition of the United Ararb Emirates but settled for a 1-1 draw with Colombia in the final group match.

Germany then beat the Netherlands 2-1 in an ill-tempered match, and edged the Czech Republic 1-0 before needing penalties to defeat England in the semifinals following a 1-1 draw.

Here in Brazil, Germany had to come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Ghana in its second match, before edging the United States 1-0 and struggling mightily in the extra-time win over Algeria that exposed its wobbly defense, which produced a series of errors in a shaky display.

Germany had goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank for that win.

“We are not happy either with our performances, but at the end we’ve always come out as deserved winners. It’s the winning that matters,” Neuer said Wednesday, ahead of the team’s departure for Rio de Janeiro.

Germany coach Joachim Loew sounded a similar note after the Algeria match.

“Should I now be disappointed that we are in the last eight?” he asked, rhetorically. “There are such games in every tournament when you need the will power to advance. You don’t have to play fantastic every match, you have to win.”

Loew is under pressure to win his first title in his fourth major tournament. Germany was runner-up at the Euro 2008, a semifinalist at the 2010 World Cup and a semifinalist at the 2012 Euro, when his tactics in the loss to Italy were heavily criticized.

Germany is trying to avoid the role of favorite in the match against France and knows it will have to improve.

“France has always had good individuals but they now play as real team,” Koepke said.

Neuer added: “They are dangerous and flexible. They may not have played perfect games, but they are strong and steady.”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote