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Loew needs a title to prove he is a winner

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Joachim Loew has shaped a talented German generation into an entertaining and successful team with a history of near misses. Germany needs to beat Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup decider to finally make Loew a winner.

Loew’s achievements and the innovations he has brought into German football will always be recognized. But unless he wins the title his tenure will be regarded as a partial success, even considering the astounding 7-1 win over Brazil in the semifinals.

Loew’s job is secure — his contract had been extended through the 2016 European Championship before the World Cup. But if Germany fails to beat Argentina at the Maracana and falls short of the title in Loew’s fourth straight tournament in charge, he may not be able to shake off the reputation of a coach who can’t win titles.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a final, but this team has a future and I am not worried,” Loew said Saturday.

Germany lost the 2008 European Championship final to Spain, which also beat Germany two years later in the World Cup semifinals.

With the German public expecting nothing less than the title at Euro 2012, Loew’s team lost to Italy in the semifinals, with the coach widely blamed for the defeat by picking wrong tactics and wrong players.

Germany breezed through the qualifying for the tournament in Brazil but the only blemish was a spectacular one — allowing Sweden to rally from a four-goal deficit to earn a 4-4 draw in Germany. Critics said Loew had failed to react from the touchline and made no attempt to interrupt the Swedish momentum.

Loew was Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant for two years before taking over after the 2006 World Cup. He was widely credited for being the mastermind behind the tactics of Klinsmann’s team.

As head coach, Loew continued to rely on a crop of young players coming out of Germany’s youth academies, showing no reluctance to cut veterans he did not trust to do the job any more, including former captain Michael Ballack.

Throughout the years, Loew and his staff kept fine-tuning the style Loew wanted his team to play: a passing game modelled on the Spanish “tiki-taka,” fast breaks with a quick transition from defense to attack and creative players who could be deployed in several positions.

Loew raised eyebrows in Germany ahead of this World Cup by picking only one true striker, 36-year-old veteran Miroslav Klose. He then caused some consternation by choosing four central defenders for his back four, with no trained fullbacks in the starting lineup.

Loew showed flexibility that was not always there in the past when he improved Germany’s game by dropping the “false nine” system, returning captain Philipp Lahm to fullback and inserting Klose into the starting 11.

“For me, he is a fantastic coach,” Klose said. “He always has new ideas in training. He’s always spoken a lot with the players. He’s brought in new tactics.”

Loew said he and his players discuss different ideas but ultimately it’s him who makes the decisions and sticks with them. He said he wouldn’t change his thinking because of outside suggestions, such as those made by television pundits back home.

“I am following a clear line and I will not adjust it just to please the public opinion,” Loew said.

The 54-year-old coach has an impressive record. In 111 games in charge, he has 76 wins, 20 draws and 15 losses.

Securing the country’s fourth World Cup crown, after an absence of 24 years, would put Loew on a pedestal in Germany.

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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