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Switzerland: From bores to draws at the World Cup

By WTOP Staff

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — From being the bores of the last two World Cups, Switzerland could be one of the draws of the 2014 tournament as retiring coach Ottmar Hitzfeld puts his faith in an exciting younger generation in Brazil.

To say that the Swiss were hard to watch in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010 would be something of an understatement.

In 2006, they became the subject of heavy criticism after being eliminated in the last 16 by Ukraine on penalties, failing to score in 120 minutes or even in the shootout. In four games, they managed four goals.

Switzerland proved to be an even bigger turn-off in 2010, scoring just one goal in three games and getting knocked out after a dire 0-0 draw with Honduras.

It promises to be very different four years on.

“We began the revolution in 2011 when we brought in younger players to the team,” Hitzfeld said on Saturday.

“We have a very strong younger generation, and we also have young, yet experienced, players. In that sense we have a better mix.”

Many of the players who won the Under-17 World Cup for Switzerland in 2009 and were runners-up at the 2011 Under-21 European Championship are now together in Hitzfeld’s senior squad that went through qualifying unbeaten in 10 games.

It helped the Swiss earn a top seeding for the World Cup, and has lifted them to No. 6 in the FIFA rankings. They have lost just once in two years.

The team’s shining light is playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri, who is a bit-part player at Bayern Munich but an integral figure in the national side. Two 21-year-olds, attacking midfielder Granit Xhaka and striker Josip Drmic, are also part of Hitzfeld’s blossoming attack that gets its first run-out in Brazil on Sunday against Ecuador.

“We are a bit more creative going forward,” said the 65-year-old Hitzfeld, a two-time Champions League-winning coach who is retiring after the World Cup. “I am convinced we will perform better this time and that we will reach the last 16. Dreams are there to be realized.”

Hitzfeld will also be delighted to see that, publicly at least, central-midfield pairing Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami are in harmony off the pitch, too, following a reported spat between the Napoli teammates.

Behrami said in April his relationship with Inler had changed after the latter’s agent reportedly made disparaging comments about his performances.

But they sat side-by-side at Saturday’s pre-match news conference, with Behrami calming any fears.

“It could be one of the reasons we are here together is to show that everything is OK between us,” he said.

“I have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for me so tomorrow we are going to be fighting for the team and the team needs us together.”

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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