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Neuer: Playing Portugal will be ‘like a final’

By WTOP Staff

DUSAN STOJANOVIC
Associated Press

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — For Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, playing a team of Portugal’s caliber and featuring a star of Cristiano Ronaldo’s class gives their World Cup group opener the feel of a game with a higher status.

“After that match, we will really know where we stand,”Neuer told a news conference Sunday on the eve of the Group G encounter. It’s a rematch of the Euro 2012 opener, when Germany beat Portugal 1-0.

Three points in this match will go a long way toward helping the winner advance from a group that also contains Ghana and the United States.

“In a way, it’s almost like a final,” said Neuer, who was feeling upbeat after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Ronaldo is likely to play, despite lingering knee problems, and Neuer said if the Portugal forward is fit “he will be the top danger for our team.”

Germany Coach Joachim Loew agreed, saying Ronaldo and his teammates “are the kings of counter-attacks.”

“This is the match between the 2nd- and the 4th-ranked teams — that tells it all,” Loew said, referring to the FIFA world rankings that list his team at No. 2, two spots ahead of Portugal.

However, Portugal has not had much luck against Germany at major tournaments. Germany won 3-1 in the match for third place at the 2006 World Cup, beat Portugal 3-2 at the 2008 European Championship and won the Euro 2012 opener.

Loew has made no secret of his game plan — to play high-tempo football from the start and to wear down the Portuguese in the midday heat and humidity of Salvador.

“We are a team that will be difficult to beat,” Loew said, despite the fact that his defense has been hit by injuries that could lead to some significant reshuffles in the back line.

“Injuries can be a setback,” he said. “But, if we work well as a team, defensively and offensively, we have a great chance to get far in the tournament.”

Usually a right back, captain Philipp Lahm, who missed most of the training camp with an ankle problem, is likely to move into a defensive midfield role.

Sami Khedira is expected to be the other defensive midfielder, but he lacks match practice after missing six months with a knee injury. Bastian Schweinsteiger will probably be on the bench as he has been nursing a knee injury as well.

“We had some injury problems, but that is all solved now,” Loew said.

He declined to reveal his starting lineup, but said all of his players can’t wait for the match to begin.

“We had some palpable tension within the team, but that is all gone now,” Loew said. “Today, we are in the fever of the World Cup.”

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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