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Ronaldo ready to take on Germany; US vs Ghana

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to lead Portugal against Germany in one of the biggest games of the first week at the World Cup, saying his sore knee won’t be a problem.

The Real Madrid forward, arguably the most recognizable player in the sport, said he wouldn’t risk his career by going into such a tough match with a serious injury. The match at Salvador features two of the top four ranked teams in the world, with Germany at No. 2 and Portugal at No. 4.

In the other Group G match Monday, Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. team is aiming to reverse its record against Ghana, which has ended the American run at the last two World Cups. Nigeria and Iran meet in Group F.

Things to watch for Monday:

NOT ALL ABOUT KNEE: Ronaldo has been bothered by a left knee problem in recent weeks but says he’ll be “100 percent” to take on Germany. He knows history is against Portugal in recent matches against Germany at major events — the Germans beat Portugal for third place at the 2006 World Cup, and have won their head-to-heads at the last two European championships.

But the world player of the year is confident some club form could be a good omen: he helped Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals and then clinched the title.

“Maybe this will be the year to change the history and Monday would be the best day for it to happen,” said Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time leading scorer. “It’s a new tournament, new players, our team is good, we have confidence.”

Ronaldo’s mantra this week has been “one player is not a team” — but Portugal does tend to struggle when he’s not available. Joao Moutinho will have to create opportunities in midfield and Manchester United winger Nani needs to find form and fitness to have any impact on the tournament.

Germany coach Joachim Loew was keeping his starting lineup secret but injuries will force some changes. Sami Khedira, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger are all coming back from injuries. Veteran forward Lukas Podolski could play an important role in what will be his third World Cup.

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

DRAINING CONDITIONS: A two-day downpour has flooded some streets and caused mudslides in Natal. The forecast is for more unsettled weather when the Americans open their campaign against Ghana, which knocked them out in the second round in 2010 and ended their run in the group stage in ’06.

The U.S. has never lost to a team three straight times at the World Cup and Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, who scored the goal that clinched the win over the Americans four years ago, says “It’s going to be like they’re coming for revenge.”

The spotlight will be on the U.S. midfield, where Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley will likely play key roles supplying Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore in the absence of World Cup veteran Landon Donovan, who was cut from the squad last month.

Donovan will be working as a TV analyst.

Ghana is coming off a 4-0 win over 2002 semifinalist South Korea in its last warmup match. Gyan and midfielder Sulley Muntari, playing in their third World Cups, and Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng — both returning after long breaks from the international arena — have crucial leadership roles in a squad containing 16 World Cup rookies.

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

WINNING COULD MEAN EVERYTHING: Nigeria is aiming to shake off its under-achiever tag. To do that, the African champion has to start by winning its first World Cup match since 1998. First up is Iran, another country which hasn’t won a World Cup game in 16 years since its big win over the United States in France. Two-time champion Argentina had a 2-1 win over newcomer Bosnia-Herzegovina and should dominate Group F, where there is no clear favorite for the No. 2 spot.

Nigeria’s hopes could rest on the form and fitness of striker Emmanuel Emenike and the support he gets from Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

The 33-year-old Javad Nekounam will lead Iran with reinforcement coming from Reza “Gucci” Ghoochannejhad and Ashkan Dejagah, who turned down chances to play for European countries so they can represent the country of their birth.

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

Follow John Pye on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JP_at_AP

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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