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Kompany uncertain to make US game at World Cup

By WTOP Staff

RAF CASERT
AP Sports Writer

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) — Despite a perfect record coming into the World Cup second round against the United States, a recurring groin injury to Vincent Kompany has cast a pall over the Belgian campaign.

Any other player would have been relatively easy to replace. Yet in Kompany, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has the essence of the qualities that got Belgium to the World Cup in the first place. Skills, power, vision and leadership.

“We will do all within our powers to make sure he comes back at 100 percent,” Wilmots said Friday, acknowledging it was based more on hope than medical evidence. The coach said it was “impossible to say now” whether the Manchester City captain would be ready to play against the physically imposing Americans next Tuesday.

Making matters worse for Wilmots, the backup rightback Anthony Vanden Borre was diagnosed with a cracked left fibula after he was tackled late in Thursday’s 1-0 win over South Korea and will miss the rest of the World Cup.

Bad as that may be, it would not compare to a Kompany no-show.

Wilmots considers him his “right-hand man” on the pitch, a proven winner earning two of the last three Premier League titles.

Kompany strained his left groin in the last five minutes during the opening 2-1 victory against Algeria.

He, and Belgium, survived that game, and after a three-day layoff, he was excellent again during a 1-0 victory over Russia, which probably places him along Thiago Silva as the best central defenders in the World Cup so far.

It made the shock worse when Kompany had to pull out after half an hour during the last training session ahead of Thursday’s 1-0 win over South Korea.

“It will be day by day and that is why I don’t think about a lineup now. We will have to see after the last training session,” said Wilmots.

Kompany is not one to give up easily. During the World Cup qualifier against Serbia he played on with a broken nose and eye socket and a slight concussion.

He grew up on the rough, small city square pitches of Brussels, the son of a father who had escaped the dictatorship of Congo’s Mobutu Sese Seko. It gave him mental strength which has made him come back from injury time and again.

“He wants to play this World Cup so badly,” Wilmots said. “Others can replace him, but when we talk about leadership, he is an added value.”

It would be too much to call Kompany talismanic for Belgium, since Wilmots has set up a strong defensive line that can survive without him. During qualifying, the Red Devils won three away games without him and drew an inconsequential final home game.

But the South Korea game here did lay bare how important he is. Goalie Thibaut Courtois barely had to make saves in the first two games, yet with Kompany gone against the weakest opponent of Group H, he had to pull off several good saves to keep a clean sheet.

The problem is that Wilmots is running thin on defenders. Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Ciman are also on the injury list.

Tuesday’s match against the United States is widely expected to be a fierce physical battle, where all players will have to be in top shape to last the full game.

“We don’t have the right to be at only 80 percent for a second-round game,” said Wilmots.

___

Follow Raf Casert on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rcasert

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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