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No end of an era for Spain; changes against Chile

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Spain’s players dismissed notions that a 5-1 loss to the Netherlands spelled the end of an era for the world champions, although coach Vicente del Bosque said it might be time to shake up the lineup for a crucial match against Chile.

“I think the majority of people have confidence in us. We accept criticism, but it’s crazy to talk about the end of an era,” defender Sergio Ramos said Saturday, a day after Spain endured its worst competitive defeat in 64 years.

“Excuses are for losers and Spain has a winning mentality, and that will never change.”

Spain’s bid to repeat as world champion could end if it loses Wednesday’s match against Chile at the Maracana. Chile beat Australia 3-1 in the other Group B match on Friday.

Del Bosque defended his decision to stick with some of the squad’s older players, saying players like Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, and Xabi Alonso were the backbone of a team that has provided so much of its success, including qualifying for Brazil.

“I sense these players are not too old, but I say that with some hesitation,” Del Bosque said. “I believe they have the maturity and the skill to take on this challenge. Those that are over 30 are more responsible because of everything they have won in their careers.

“One problem is that we have been so used to having everything go our way. In the face of tough matches we should be prepared to face adversity.”

Spain has gone on an unprecedented run since winning Euro 2008, but Del Bosque has done little tinkering with the core of that same team six years later. Spain has a generous amount of talented players that could likely slide right in like Javi Martinez, Koke, and Cesc Fabregas.

And they may get their chance against Chile.

“There could be changes, but now is not the moment to talk about it. I don’t want to rush things and make a wrong decision,” said Del Bosque, who expected Chile to bring a similar style as the Dutch with high pressure up the field. “And if there are changes, it’s not meant to be treated as a message to anyone.”

Del Bosque did not speculate over whether he would stick with striker Diego Costa or return to using Fabregas as a “false striker” that has been so successful.

Casillas made several errors to allow easy goals, but Del Bosque did not sound inclined Saturday to drop his captain.

“When Iker got into the dressing room he made sure to address everybody despite the solemn silence, he apologized for his play and began the recovery process that we needed, he acted like a captain,” Del Bosque said before Saturday’s training, when he had a long solitary chat with Casillas on the sidelines. Xavi later joined in as Spain appeared to take stock of its situation, and the fallout from the historic defeat in which it conceded more goals in one game than it did in its last two major tournaments combined.

Spain was in this situation four years ago in South Africa when it opened with a 1-0 loss to Switzerland. Sixteen players are back from that team, and the next test will be whether they can recover from such a beating.

Ramos said nerves were not an issue.

“We’ve gone through difficult moments before,” the Real Madrid center back said, “but we have to keep away from feeling any nerves and focus on staying motivated.”

___

Follow Paul Logothetis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulLogoAP

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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