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Loew: MLS schedule helps US with World Cup fitness

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) — Germany coach Joachim Loew isn’t sure his team’s extra day of rest this week makes up for the months-long scheduling advantage his friend, Jurgen Klinsmann, has had with the U.S. team.

On the eve of Germany’s last Group G match against the United States on Thursday, Loew expressed admiration for the relentless physical play the American squad has brought to its first two World Cup matches in hot, humid Brazil.

Loew also suggested the Major League Soccer schedule, which is shorter than those of European leagues and starts after the winter, helped Klinsmann get his team in exceptional physical condition for World Cup play in June.

“We have to be very well prepared, in physical terms,” to play the Americans, Loew said.

Both teams are coming off 2-2 draws. Germany was held by Ghana on Saturday, while the U.S. saw a victory slip away in the last-minute of injury time against Portugal the following night.

The U.S. has “this aggressiveness that we’ve seen in this tournament in their two games. They’re very well prepared. They’re very fit,” Loew said. “They might have had an advantage in that their league doesn’t last 11 months. Jurgen had his team in January and they were working together since then. This is an advantage. That’s why they’re at an excellent physical level.”

Loew’s assessment doesn’t necessarily apply across the U.S. squad. Of the 23 Americans Klinsmann brought to Brazil, 11 play in MLS. Most of the rest earn their living in Europe, in the same leagues as most German players. In addition, while Clint Dempsey plays for Seattle, he spent part of last winter on loan to Fulham in England.

Still, Loew sees the U.S. team’s fitness as one of its overall strengths.

“Their matches really showed great involvement and pressure all the time in the game against Ghana and also against Portugal,” Loew said. “You have a team with very strong technical players and this will require a lot from us.”

Fortunately for Loew, he’ll have a full complement of players at his disposal, despite having defender Jerome Boateng and midfielder Sami Khedira come off the field last weekend.

Boateng left after the first half with a sore left thigh, while Khedira was replaced due to a left knee problem in the 70th minute.

Loew said both were training by Monday but stopped short of confirming they, or anyone else, would be in Thursday’s starting lineup.

“There’s a lot of supposition about the lineup; who’s going to replace whom,” Loew said. “We have different solutions. We have different types of players. We have different ways of playing.”

One player Loew has stuck with so far is midfielder Mesut Ozil, coming off a disappointing campaign with Arsenal. He scored five goals in 26 Premier League appearances after the English club paid a transfer fee of about $68 million to acquire him from Real Madrid. With Arsenal, Ozil plays in the midfield, from where he can spearhead attacks and distribute the ball, but Loew has placed Ozil on the right flank.

Ozil has produced one shot on goal through two games and has yet to score.

“I’m very happy with the two matches I played,” Ozil said. “I still need to score goals, but I am very happy with my performance. I know what I can contribute and I’m going to show that.

“Everybody knows I’m a playmaker. That’s my favorite position, but the coach decides the system,” Ozil continued. “Now I’m playing on the right — I played on the right a lot in the past as well — and at this position I don’t have all the freedom of a defensive midfielder, but that’s not an excuse.”

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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