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Messi guides Argentina into semis, Dutch scrape in

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Argentines didn’t need a late winner from Lionel Messi this time, settling in to protect a 1-0 margin against Belgium that earned them a first trip to the World Cup semifinals in 24 years.

The Netherlands could have used a late goal from Robin van Persie or Wesley Sneijder or Arjen Robben later Saturday but didn’t get one, only edging Costa Rica 4-3 on penalties to set up a semifinal against Argentina.

The 2010 finalists lit up the tournament with 12 goals in four matches but couldn’t find the net in regulation or extra time against rank underdog Costa Rica. Captain van Persie wasted chances to break the 0-0 deadlock, and Sneijder smashed an 80th-minute free kick into the post and a stoppage-time shot into the crossbar, setting the scene for replacement goalkeeper Tim Krul to be the unlikely hero.

Krul went on in the last minute of extra time — coach Louis van Gaal considering him a better option in the shootout than No. 1 Jasper Cillessen — and made two crucial saves.

“We had a lot of chances but it didn’t go in,” Krul said on Dutch television. “Then I come in, stop two penalties and here we are.”

The flood of goals from the group stage slowed to a trickle in the knockout rounds, with the four quarterfinals yielding just five goals. Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia on Friday night was relatively high-scoring compared with the 1-0 results by Germany against France and Argentina against Belgium.

The low-scoring quarterfinals were slightly overshadowed anyway in the host nation, where millions were still coming to terms with the fact that a back injury knocked star striker Neymar out of the tournament.

Brazil fans at Brasilia’s Estadio Nacional for the Argentina-Belgium match wore face mask caricatures of their talisman and held up signs reading: “Have strength Neymar. Brazil will win.”

They were drowned out by tens of thousands of traveling Argentina fans who outnumbered them and raucously supported Messi.

The alleged leader of Argentina’s infamous football hooligans, Pablo Alvarez, was among them, but he’s unlikely to be there next time after being detained inside the stadium and is set for deportation.

Messi remains in Brazil after Gonzalo Higuain ended a four-game scoreless streak with a goal in the 8th minute to help Argentina reach the final four for the first time since 1990, the year it lost the final to West Germany.

Higuain picked up a deflected pass from Angel Di Maria and beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a half-volley toward the far post as he turned.

“Since the first game of this World Cup I said I was calm, that the goals would come. It came and at an important moment,” the Napoli striker said. “It’s been so many years since we made it to the semifinals. Now we did.”

Messi missed a chance to get his fifth goal of the tournament when he failed to beat Courtois in a one-on-one situation in stoppage time. This time, it wasn’t needed.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots was critical of Argentina’s approach after taking the lead and described his opponents as “just an ordinary team.”

“If we had equalized in the last few minutes, they are dead, they are finished,” he said.

Neymar was supposed to be there until the end of the World Cup, at least that was the expectation in a country which spent billions on hosting the tournament.

But his campaign ended in the 86th minute against Colombia, when he got a knee in the back from Juan Camillo Zuniga that fractured his third vertebra.

His first public comments since then were delivered in a video released Saturday, just before the striker was airlifted from Brazil’s training camp in a medical helicopter to be treated at home — a departure broadcast live on Brazilian TV.

“I don’t have words to describe what has been going through my head and my heart,” Neymar said, speaking in a low, quiet tone. “I just want to say that I will be back as soon as possible. When you least expect I’ll be back.

“I won’t be able to fulfill the dream of playing in a World Cup final, but I’m sure (the Brazil team) will win this one, they will become champions, and I will be there with them, and all of Brazil will be celebrating.”

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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