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World Cup title ends 10-year project for Germany

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The World Cup title for Joachim Loew and his “golden generation” crowned a process that was 10 years in the making. With a talented crop of new players coming through, the future looks bright for Germany.

The 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana that gave Germany its fourth title and made it the first European team to win the championship on South American soil completed a circle for Loew that began in 2004, when he became Juergen Klinsmann’s assistant.

The two friends began plotting how to bring the title back to Germany and rejuvenated the team, creating an attacking, entertaining style that pleased the eye and promised success.

Germany fell short at home in 2006, finishing third, and Klinsmann stepped down to leave Loew in charge. Loew’s team reached the final of Euro 2008, finished third again at the 2010 World Cup and was a semifinalist at Euro 2012. With doubts growing whether Loew’s Germany could ever become a champion, the team pulled off the historic run in Brazil, including a stunning 7-1 victory over the host in the semifinal.

“It was time,” Loew said after the final. “It’s the product of many years of work. And it’s something for eternity.”

A meticulous planner who leaves little to chance, Loew made risky decisions that turned out right. He gave key midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger time to slowly nurse himself back into the team after a series of injuries and Schweinsteiger was one of the heroes of the final. Loew reshuffled the defense when needed and returned his only true striker, Miroslav Klose, to the starting line-up.

“The coach has really deserved the title,” Schweinsteiger said. “He managed to keep all players happy and that’s incredible, to his credit. He really had the entire team behind him.”

Forward Thomas Mueller, who led the team with five goals, said he was pleased for Loew.

“I am happy for the coach, because he was always in the final or semifinal in recent years,” Mueller said.

Midfielder Toni Kroos said the team trusted Loew and his decisions.

“We knew from day one that he has good vision and a very good feeling about whom and how to play,” Kroos said. “He knew exactly what he was doing and had confidence in us.”

As Germany returns home to celebrate the title with thousands of fans in Berlin, Loew might be contemplating his future. His contract runs through Euro 2018 and he has indicated he intends to stay on.

“We’ve been working for years on our own style. This title will be a shot in the arm for the future. We have players who are still very young and not many players over 30,” Loew said.

“As for Klose, you never know, you can expect anything from him,” Loew said of the 36-year-old striker. Klose has been noncommittal on his future.

Mario Goetze, who scored the match winner in the final with superb control and technique, is 22 and at the start of a promising career. Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan missed the tournament with injuries but will be back. Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Andre Schuerrle and Sami Khedira are all young, while Schweinsteiger and captain Philipp Lahm are still 30 or younger despite being in the team for 10 years or more.

“We have young players who can still achieve something in their careers,” Loew said.

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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