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Podolski relishing 3rd World Cup, eyeing title

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) — Lukas Podolski was a promising teenager when he made his debut for Germany 10 years ago. Now in his third World Cup, he’s a veteran in a young squad with a role that goes well beyond entertaining his teammates.

Podolski is popular with his fellow players for his easygoing, fun-loving manner and a quick wit.

But behind the outgoing personality is a steely determination.

“I am here to lift the World Cup title,” the Arsenal forward said on Saturday. “The 10 years have flown by and it would be great to complete the circle with the World Cup.”

Germany opens its World Cup campaign on Monday against Portugal in Salvador. It also faces Ghana and the United States in Group G.

Two years after joining the national team, Podolski earned the best young player award at the 2006 World Cup — ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — and became one of the team’s regulars.

Podolski slightly fell off the radar in Germany with the rise of new stars in his position, such as Marco Reus and Andre Schuerrle. But Reus is out of the World Cup because of injury and Podolski could get the nod for the starting 11 ahead of Schuerrle following some impressive recent performances.

Podolski played a role in five of Germany’s six goals in the final warm-up match against Armenia, scoring one himself. He also came off the bench in the earlier 2-2 draw with Cameroon, leading a second-half German rally.

Podolski was a substitute in both of those matches, but the 29-year-old could be in the starting line-up on Monday.

“I’ve been feeling good in training, I’ve played well and I am 100-percent ready to play,” he said.

Podolski said he would have no problem coming off the bench either.

“Each our 23 players will be alert and ready to step in at any time,” he said.

Podolski, who has 114 caps and has scored 47 goals, said the German team had evolved over the past 10 years into a side that plays some of the most entertaining football in the world.

“We’ve developed, now we can really speak about the World Cup title,” he said. “The World Cup is always something special and I hope we can go far.”

Like striker Miroslav Klose, Podolski was born in Poland and grew up in Cologne, his first big club. He had an unhappy stint at Bayern Munich before returning to Cologne and then moving to Arsenal in 2012.

Podolski’s other side emerged in an infamous incident in 2009, when a dispute on the pitch ended with Podolski slapping then captain Michael Ballack during a World Cup qualifier against Wales. Podolski was unhappy that Ballack was not passing him the ball. Podolski was never punished.

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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