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Dutch aim for group dominance against Australia

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS BRUMMITT
Associated Press

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — The key question for most ahead of Netherlands’ second World Cup match is whether Robin Van Persie and co. can possibly top their stunning opening performance.

The opponents this time is Australia, a much easier prospect than defending champion Spain, which it thrashed 5-1. Van Persie set the tournament alight with a memorable, diving header.

The Dutch had modest expectations going into the World Cup. Their win against Spain has changed that.

“After such a performance, the dynamics have naturally changed. However, as a country, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. We have to stay realistic,” van Persie said. “We achieved an impressive result but we have a long way to go to win this tournament. This is my fifth (major) tournament and I know how these things work: the euphoria vanishes just as quickly as it appears.”

The Dutch know that a win would leave them well-poised to top Group B — an especially prized spot given that the runners-up in the section can reasonably be expected to face host Brazil in the second round. It would almost certainly condemn Australia’s team of mostly newcomers to an early exit, in line with the gloomy pre-tournament predictions.

Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal confirmed his reputation as a master tactician against Spain, playing five defenders and making the most of counter-attacking opportunities. Van Gaal hinted he might revert to the traditional Dutch 4-3-3 system against Australia.

For Australia to stand a chance on Wednesday afternoon in the southern city of Porto Alegre, the Socceroos’ all-time leading scorer Tim Cahill will need to again be at the peak of his game.

Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong, who knows Cahill from when both played in the Premier League, said the New York Red Bulls’ striker was one of the best headers of the ball in the game. The 34-year-old Cahill’s header provided Australia’s only goal in the 3-1 loss to Chile.

“He’s a terrific player that always gives his heart and his all on the pitch. For his country or his club,” de Jong said. “We have to be careful because the timing to the ball with his headers is one of the best; he’s one of the best timers I’ve seen from all the players around the world. So we have to take care of that very well. We have to take this game very serious.”

The quality of the opposition always meant Australia was going to struggle in Brazil. The country has a history of gritty performance against stronger teams, and has shocked one or two bigger nations, but most of the larger upsets have come in friendlies.

Still, the players and coach believe, with some justification, that the score against Chile didn’t tell the whole story. Down by two goals in the first 15 minutes, Cahill’s 34th minute goal triggered a comeback that had the South Americans on the defensive for much of the second half. Chile’s third goal came in injury time.

“If we get our start right the next game I think we’ll be in with a better shot,” said Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who is playing in his first Word Cup. “Hopefully we come out against Holland a lot more positive and being a lot braver in the beginning. Spain’s loss highlights that anything can happen at a World Cup.”

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was handed a blow when attacking fullback Ivan Franjic tore a hamstring in the Chile match, ending his tournament. That has led to further upheaval in a defensive lineup already very much in transition and now facing Manchester United’s van Persie and Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben.

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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