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Speedy striker Robben starring at World Cup

By WTOP Staff

MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — Arjen Robben just seems to get quicker and quicker. The 30-year-old Bayern Munich winger has out-sprinted every defender he has faced at the World Cup so far and is scoring goals, too.

It is a far cry from the final four years ago, when he couldn’t find the net and possibly win the tournament for the Netherlands.

Robben seemed doomed to be remembered at World Cups for the second-half chance he squandered against Spain in the final in Johannesburg, when Iker Casillas stuck out a boot and deflected his shot away from goal with the score still 0-0.

The Bayern Munich forward still gets asked about that miss, but he has silenced critics at this World Cup with three goals in as many matches and a perfect assist to set up the team’s second goal against Chile as the Dutch topped Group B with three straight wins, scoring 10 goals in the process.

“I think Arjen has done a great job so far and at the moment I wouldn’t change him with any other player in the tournament,” said Dirk Kuyt as the Dutch prepared for Sunday’s round of 16 clash with Mexico in Fortaleza. “He’s scored great goals … hopefully he can give this performance until the end.”

Robben is one of the old guard in the Dutch team — along with strike partner Robin van Persie, he’s scored at three successive World Cups — and he has earned the respect of the youngsters snapping at his heels to get into the starting lineup.

“Robben is fantastic,” said Memphis Depay. “It’s fantastic to train with him every day. I can’t believe my eyes what he can do with the ball. It’s unbelievable how fast he is with the ball. He’s a great player.”

Depay should know.

In the Netherlands’ final group match against Chile, he had to sprint toward goal as Robben set off on a lightning-fast counterattack down the left wing. The 20-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker managed to catch up with him — just — and was on hand at the far post to tap in an inch-perfect cross.

Robben had been on the pitch more than 90 minutes at the time of his dash, Depay was a second-half substitute.

“I think Robben is one of the fastest players in the world with the ball and without,” Depay said.

Depay said he wasn’t sure who would win a race between the two Dutch forwards.

“I don’t know who’s fastest. I think maybe he is,” he conceded.

Robben appears to be benefiting in Brazil from his seniority.

Between matches, he sometimes works out only lightly, apparently resting up for the supreme effort he puts in during games. His coach, Louis van Gaal, knows Robben from their time together at Bayern Munich and allows the star a little leeway while he pushes most of his other players on the training ground.

Unlike four years ago in South Africa, when Robben was injured in the Netherlands’ final warm-up match before the tournament, Robben arrived in Brazil in the best shape of his life and coming off two great seasons for Bayern Munich.

He went a long way to dispelling the tag of a big game loser when he set up one goal and scored the winner for Bayern in the Champions League final a year ago.

Now he wants to reach another final in Brazil.

“We’ve put ourselves in this good position, now we have to make the most of it,” Robben told Dutch daily De Telegraaf. “Basically it’s simple. Three wins and you’re in the World Cup final.”

Scoring a goal to finally deliver the Netherlands a World Cup title would be the ultimate redemption for 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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