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US would be boosted with at least tie vs Ghana

By WTOP Staff

RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer

NATAL, Brazil (AP) — The skies may clear by Monday night, when the United States plays Ghana in the World Cup opener.

No matter the weather, the formula for advancing to the second round is evident: get at least a point from the first game.

“It’s pretty much like a knockout game,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann told fans at a send-off pep rally last month in New York’s Times Square.

The Americans have never advanced from the group stage after failing to get at least a point in their opener. They reached the knockout phase after winning their first games in 1930 and 2002, and following draws in 1994 and 2010.

“Statistically, the chances of advancing go way up now if you’re able to get a point or three from the first game,” midfielder Michael Bradley said, “and so we’ve certainly made no secret of the fact that all the focus at this point is about Ghana, and making sure that we do everything we can, so that on June 16, we step on the field and are ready to leave it all out there, knowing that a good result puts us in a really good spot.”

Twenty-four years ago, when the Americans returned to the World Cup after a 40-year absence, midfielder Tab Ramos put charts up at the U.S. team’s training camp in Italy trying to figure outs the odds of advancing. Ramos is now an assistant coach, and in the computer age tons of data are readily available.

Since the World Cup went to a 32-team format in 1998, 85 percent of teams that won their openers advanced to the group stage, according to STATS. That dropped to 58 percent for teams that drew their first games and to 9 percent for those that started with losses.

And the quality of opponent figures to get only more difficult for the U.S. After playing the 37th-ranked Black Stars, the Americans face No. 4 Portugal and close the first round against second-ranked Germany.

“If we can get the win, then we can refocus and go for Portugal,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “There’s no sense in looking beyond the first game. It’s important, I think, that we can get three points in the bag.”

Ghana knocked the Americans out of the last two World Cups with 2-1 victories, beating the Americans in group play in the 2006 tournament and in extra time during the round of 16 four years ago. The Black Stars failed in their bid to become the first African semifinalist, losing to Uruguay in a shootout after Luis Suarez used his hands to block what would have been a go-ahead goal in extra time, and Asamoah Gyan sent his penalty kick clanking off the crossbar.

Only four Americans who appeared in the 2010 match are likely to start: Howard, Bradley and forwards Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. Based on their starting lineup in Monday’s 4-0 exhibition win over South Korea, Ghana could return defender Jonathan Mensah, midfielders Kwadwo Asamoah and Andre Ayew, and forwards Kevin-Prince Boateng and Gyan.

“It’s a team full of individual talent with players, certain players that can hurt you in a split second if you’re not alert, if you’re not awake,” Klinsmann said.

After training for four days in the temperate late-autumn weather of Sao Paulo, the Americans traveled northeast Friday to Natal, a tropical beach city just 400 miles from the equator. They were to work out Saturday at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, then again Sunday at the Arena das Dunas, a Populas-designed stadium whose outside structure with 20 curving segments emulates the local sand dunes.

Mexico’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal on Friday was played in a downpour, and it rained again Saturday. The forecast called for more heavy rain Sunday and clearing Monday with the possibility of occasional showers.

“For us everything is ideal,” Klinsmann said. “Whatever the temperature is, whatever the conditions are — rain, no rain, hot, humid, whatever — we are prepared.”

NOTES: Jonas Eriksson of Sweden will referee the game. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was banned from his team’s bench for two games by European soccer’s governing body after Pellegrini criticized Eriksson for giving Martin Demichelis a red card for a foul on Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in a Champions League game last season.

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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