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The heat is on: World Cup comes to the Amazon

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The World Cup is coming to the Amazon.

After months of hype about how the humidity in the jungle city of Manaus will affect the players from England and Italy, and a week of intense attention on the patchy playing surface, Saturday’s match will determine which team feels the heat more.

The contest between two former World Cup winners is one of four matches on day three of the tournament. Colombia and Greece kick off proceedings, followed by Uruguay against Costa Rica. Japan and Ivory Coast should bring it to a close just before midnight in Brazil.

Here are some things to look for:

JUNGLE FEVER: The Italy and England camps have spent weeks doing everything possible to prepare for the conditions, from practicing in humid cities wearing long sleeves to riding exercise bikes in saunas.

The forecast is for temperatures of about 32 Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity above 70 percent.

What the game really boils down to is three valuable points, with both teams desperate to open their campaigns with victories in Group D.

Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli should lead the Italian charge, while England fans will be demanding big games from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

Both squads have young players ready to make a mark, with 19-year-old Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling considered a chance to come off the bench for England and 21-year-old Marco Verratti a contender to join Pirlo in the Italian midfield.

Staff at the Arena da Amazonia had to activate emergency plans to revive the patchy turf during the week, and spent time on Friday using dye to ensure the grass at least looks green.

Venue: Manaus. Kickoff: 6 p.m. local time (6 p.m. in New York, 11 p.m. in London, 7 a.m. in Tokyo).

SUAREZ NO SURE THING: Coach Oscar Tabarez was still unsure on the eve of Uruguay’s opener against Costa Rica if he’d have his biggest star available.

Luis Suarez had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on May 22 and has rejoined regular training, but Tabarez said “we don’t want to jump the gun.”

He has prepared scenarios in case the Liverpool striker isn’t quite ready, with Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan ready to start.

The 2010 semifinalists don’t want to waste an opportunity to pick up three points before their later group matches against England and Italy.

For a Costa Rica team lacking star power, Bryan Ruiz will be the key in midfield.

Venue: Fortaleza. Kickoff: 4 p.m. local time (3 p.m. in New York, 8 p.m. in London, 4 a.m. in Tokyo).

BEST FORM OF ATTACK IS? Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has been drilling his naturally attack-minded lineup on how to keep patience and structure against a heavily defense-oriented team. He even praised the rigid, no-frills structure that helped carry Greece to the 2004 European title.

The Greek team took offense, with 37-year-old captain Giorgos Karagounis reminding the Colombians that important games are about getting the basics right.

“We are concerned about how to score, and then how to defend our goal. It’s as simple as that,” he said. Colombia “should also be concerned about defending their own goal.”

The Colombia attack will miss star forward Radamel Falcao, who is out with a knee injury. James Rodriguez remains the main playmaker.

Venue: Belo Horizonte. Kickoff: 1 p.m. local time (noon in New York, 5 p.m. in London, 1 a.m. Sunday in Tokyo).

NIGHTCAP: In what appears to be a wide open Group C, Japan is carrying Asian hopes of a place in the knockout stage and Ivory Coast is a contender to reach the same stage for Africa. With creative players on both sides, the tension of an opening match isn’t likely to stifle the flair.

One thing for certain is a vast TV audience, with the 10 p.m. start in Brazil translating into a 10 a.m. Sunday kickoff for viewers in Japan.

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi concedes that not all of the members of his aging squad are 100 percent fit, but expects them all to be available for the game.

He’s hoping Yaya Toure will play despite injuring his hamstring in the last game of Manchester City’s Premier League-winning season, and veteran striker Didier Drogba will be OK despite limping in practice earlier in the week.

Japan was the first team to seal a spot in Brazil through qualifying and has a young and enthusiastic squad. Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa are at the heart of the attack, and should be well supplied by Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagatomo.

Venue: Recife. Kickoff: 10 p.m. local time (9 p.m. in New York, 2 a.m. Sunday in London, 10 a.m. Sunday in Tokyo)

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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