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France has a point to prove; Messi set for action

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — France is preparing for its first World Cup match since leaving South Africa in disgrace four years ago following a player strike and a group-stage exit.

Didier Deschamps’ inexperienced squad needs to perform on the sport’s biggest stage to win back supporters and is expected to beat Honduras on Sunday, which only compounds the pressure.

Some of the favorites have had a tough time in the first few days in Brazil, with defending champion Spain thrashed 5-1 by Netherlands and Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay, semifinalists four years ago.

Lionel Messi will be in action Sunday when Argentina opens against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F. In the other match on day four in Brazil, Switzerland is aiming to live up to its ranking when it takes on Ecuador in Group E.

Things to watch for Sunday:

FRENCH PLANNING FOR A RENAISSANCE: France has had an on-off run at the last four World Cups, reaching the finals twice (champions in 1998 and runners-up in 2006) and going out in the group stage twice without winning a match (2002 and ’10). If the pattern continues, it’ll be a good month for Les Bleus in Brazil.

With only a handful of players remaining from 2010, there’s a new energy and enthusiasm. Coach Didier Deschamps concedes there’s extraordinary pressure in the opening matches — France hasn’t won its first match in the last three World Cups — and he’s taking a cautious approach with his younger players.

Paul Pogba, 21, is one of France’s best young prospects, and 23-year-old winger Antoine Griezmann is a contender to start.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema should lead from the front against a physically abrasive Honduran team.

Honduras coach Luis Suarez says his team is capable of causing some upsets, and could even be “the Cinderella of our group.”

Defender Emilio Izaguirre and captain and goalkeeper Noel Valladares hold the key to keeping France at bay.

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

DAVID vs. GOLIATH: Bosnia-Herzegovina, playing in its first World Cup, opens against two-time champion Argentina.

Argentina has an abundance of proven scorers, so coach Alejandro Sabella has to settle on how to utilize Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain in an attacking formation with Messi.

The 26-year-old Messi didn’t make a big mark on the 2010 World Cup. But, after getting into scoring form for Argentina in the qualifiers, the Barcelona forward is preparing for something special in Brazil.

Bosnia coach Safet Susic promised to maintain the attacking strategy that helped his team qualify for Brazil, and didn’t want to tinker with his tactics to “sacrifice a player just to man-mark Messi.”

The Bosnian strike force includes Vedad Ibisevic and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who scored 10 of the Bosnian team’s 30 goals in qualifying and is nicknamed “The Diamond.”

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

SWITZERLAND’S GOALS: The Swiss have two main goals as they open their Group E campaign against Ecuador: 1. Score. 2. Live up to their ranking.

After attracting criticism for scoring just four goals in four games at the 2006 World Cup and only one in three games in 2010, Switzerland overhauled its squad with a group of young dynamic players.

Unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, the Swiss earned a seeding at the World Cup by moving up to No. 6 in the FIFA rankings.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, in an understated way, explained the change: “We are a bit more creative going forward.”

Xherdan Shaqiri is the playmaker, while midfielder Granit Xhaka and striker Josip Drmic, both 21, are important to the attacking system.

Ecuador dedicated its qualifying campaign to former striker Christian Benitez, who died suddenly of a congenital heart ailment in July at age 27. Felipe Caicedo is now the first-choice striker and is likely to wear the No. 11 jersey that was briefly retired after Benitez died.

Ecuador defender Fricson Erazo said this week: “Christian is very much in our minds and our hearts and that has made us stronger.”

Venue: Brasilia. Kickoff: 1 p.m. local time (noon in New York, 5 p.m. in London, 1 a.m. 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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