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US starts 2018 preparation with 1-0 win at Czechs

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Starting his second World Cup cycle as U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann set a bold goal for the Americans: reach the final four of the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The U.S. opened four years of preparation by beating the Czech Republic for the first time in four meetings, using a youthful roster to win 1-0 in an exhibition Wednesday night on Alejandro Bedoya’s 39th-minute goal in Prague.

“It just shows that the States has a deeper pool,” Bedoya said. “There’s a bunch of great, young, talented players coming through.”

After finishing second in a tough World Cup group that included eventual champion Germany, Portugal and Ghana, the Americans were eliminated with a 2-1 overtime loss to Belgium in the round of 16 on July 1. While it marked the Americans’ first consecutive appearances in the knockout rounds, Klinsmann wasn’t satisfied.

“Once you get out of the most difficult group in the World Cup, you should go further than just (the) round of 16,” the former German star player and coach told NBC Sports before Wednesday’s game. “This is our goal going towards Russia, not to stop at the round of 16, maybe not to stop at the quarterfinal, to say clearly, listen: We have four years to prepare this cycle. Our goal is going into a semifinal in a World Cup. And that means a lot of work, a lot of competition, a lot of grind.”

The U.S. has reached the semifinals just once, at the first World Cup in 1930. The furthest the Americans have advanced since then is a quarterfinal loss to Germany in 2002.

Three players made their U.S. debuts against the Czechs: 21-year-old forward Joe Gyau played the entire match, 23-year-old defender Greg Garza entered in the 63rd, and 18-year-old midfielder Emerson Hyndman came in four minutes later.

“I think we came together pretty well in this game,” said Gyau, whose father, Philip, made six appearances for the U.S. national team, and whose grandfather, Joseph, played for Ghana.

Hyndman, a grandson of former FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, made his debut last month with Fulham in England’s second tier.

“Most of it is a blur,” Hyndman said. “I remember my giveaway and then my tackle after it.”

Julian Green, the 19-year-old attacker who scored against Belgium, got his first start, and the lineup included John Brooks, the 21-year-old defender who scored the go-ahead goal in the 2-1 win over Ghana.

Tim Ream, a 26-year-old defender who failed to make this year’s World Cup roster, entered at the start of the second half, his first national team match since October 2011. Brad Guzan played the first half as he took over as the Americans’ No. 1 goalkeeper from Tim Howard, who is taking a year off from the national team. Guzan, who turns 30 on Sept. 9, was the oldest player in the U.S. starting lineup.

“It was important to see what is coming through in our talent pool,” Klinsmann said. “For 65, 70 minutes, it went really well.”

The only U.S. player over 30 was 35-year-old goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who made a left-footed save on Ladislav Krejci in the 65th, knocked away Darida’s close-range attempt in the 65th, blocked Radim Rezik’s right-footed shot in the 85th and used a leg to deflect Daniel Punil’s point-blank shot in the 89th.

“We wanted to set the tone and make some impressions,” Rimando said.

Klinsmann started just two players who began the match against Belgium: Bedoya and right back Fabian Johnson. Forward Jozy Altidore made his first U.S. appearance since injuring a hamstring as the Americans opened the World Cup with the win over Ghana. Altidore captained the Americans for only the second time.

The U.S. went ahead after goalkeeper Petr Cech, dropped from Chelsea’s starting lineup by manager Jose Mourinho, made a long throw to Vladimir Darida. Mix Diskerud stripped the midfielder and dribbled right back at Cech. The goalkeeper made a diving stop, and the ball ricocheted to Bedoya, who scored on a left-footed shot for his second goal in 33 international appearances.

The Czechs outshot the U.S. 10-7 and dominated the last 20 minutes.

“There’s a lot of talent there,” Altidore said. “It’s all about harnessing that.”

Notes: D Geoff Cameron missed the game because of an abdominal strain sustained while playing for Stoke against Portsmouth in the English League Cup on Aug. 27. … Green was loaned Monday from Bayern Munich to Hamburg for the season. … Plans for a U.S. exhibition against Colombia at San Antonio next Tuesday fell through. … The Americans resume with games against Ecuador on Oct. 10 at East Hartford, Connecticut, and against Honduras four days later at Boca, Raton, Florida. They also play Ireland on Nov. 18 at Dublin. … Altidore captained the U.S. last Oct. 15 in a World Cup qualifier against Panama. … The Czechs open European Championship qualifying Tuesday at home against the Netherlands.

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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