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Spain faces identity crisis after World Cup loss

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — With one disastrous result, Spain’s World Cup campaign and overall footballing identity is suddenly facing a crisis.

A 5-1 loss to the Netherlands on Friday to open Group B left many wondering whether the team that has dominated world football since 2008 has finally lost its edge — and whether its core philosophy can still remain the same.

Spain also lost its first game at the 2010 World Cup, but that was a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland in a match it dominated. This time it was humiliated, and the loss may have dealt a psychological blow that coach Vicente del Bosque only has five days to address before a must-win match against Chile in Group B.

Del Bosque also has plenty of other questions to address: Does he stick with the core group of players that have led the team to unparalleled success over the past six years? Or does he need to give the nation’s famed “tiki-taka” system a revamp?

“Normally if you beat Spain it’s 1-0,” Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi said. “Five-one is not normal because they are amazing players, with a very good head coach, all very experienced.”

Spain’s midfield of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, and David Silva faded badly over the second half at the Arena Fonte Nova on Friday. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas’ mistakes cost Spain at least a pair of goals, while defenders Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos were guilty of errors on the others.

Spain, whose defense has been steadfast in leading it to consecutive European Championships along with its World Cup win in South Africa, was left in disbelief after the country’s worst competitive defeat in 64 years.

“We have to be a team, that’s what made us world champions and two-time European champions and that’s what we need to remain,” striker Fernando Torres said. “You can’t point fingers, we have to learn from our errors.”

If Del Bosque does decide to tinker with his lineup, he has plenty of options given the squad of players he possesses.

Either Pepe Reina or David de Gea could be called on to replace Casillas, who has already been relegated to a part-time role at Real Madrid for the last two seasons.

Javi Martinez can easily slot in at center back, while Spain’s wealth of midfield talents means Cesc Fabregas, Koke, Santi Cazorla, or Juan Mata could easily start against Chile. Del Bosque could have used a midfielder like Real Madrid’s Isco to provide some fresh legs, or Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara who missed out with an injury.

“It’s not normal, I don’t know what to say about it. Normally we always manage our defense well but today we were weak when we needed to stop (Arjen) Robben and (Robin) van Persie,” Del Bosque said.

Torres replaced Diego Costa in the second half but was largely ineffective, with Spain’s strikers failing to generate many opportunities.

“We weren’t able to find solutions during the game, we normally have been able to read games very well but they did that better tonight,” said Torres, who along with David Villa represents Spain’s veteran attack.

Spain recovered from its loss against Switzerland four years ago to win its first world title. With Group B being one of the toughest in Brazil, that might be too tall an order this time around.

“There’s no reason to change our style of play. In South Africa the same happened and we ended up champions,” Torres said. “I have a lot of faith in this team.”

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Follow Paul Logothetis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulLogoAP

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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