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Netherlands vs Argentina: How they compare

By WTOP Staff

MATTIAS KAREN
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When Argentina plays the Netherlands in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday, it will be a matchup of arguably the two best attacks in the tournament. No less than five of the world’s best forwards could be on the field, which would normally raise expectations of a flurry of goals and end-to-end attacking football.

But there’s too much at stake for either team to push forward relentlessly, meaning that the game in Sao Paulo is about much more than its star strikers.

Here is a look at how the teams measure up in every area of the field:

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GOALKEEPERS:

Jasper Cillessen was relatively untested internationally going into the World Cup, having made his Netherlands debut last year. But the Ajax goalkeeper has been solid, although not spectacular, in keeping two clean sheets and limiting defending champion Spain to just one goal from a penalty. But he still has a long way to go before joining the ranks of great Dutch goalies like Edwin van der Sar and Hans van Breukelen, and was substituted for Tim Krul for the quarterfinal penalty shootout against Costa Rica.

Sergio Romero was only a backup for his club Monaco this past season but has been the Argentina starter since 2009, and is vastly more experienced than Cillessen. While Argentina’s strength is its attack, the team needed a number of key saves by Romero to keep Iran scoreless in a 1-0 win in the group stage. He has three clean sheets in Brazil, including in both knockout games. With Argentina’s back four seen as the team’s weakness, Romero has helped make sure the team only conceded three goals in five games.

Advantage: Argentina

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DEFENSE:

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal surprised many by adopting a five-man defensive line for this tournament, although in truth the two wingbacks have been pushing forward just as much as the midfielders. The strategy has been effective, though, and will likely be used again to neutralize Argentina’s explosive attack. Daley Blind has been one of the World Cup’s best defenders but may again have to fill in for the injured Nigel de Jong in midfield. Dirk Kuyt, normally a forward, has also looked vulnerable defensively in his new role as left back.

Argentina’s defense was seen as its main weakness going into the World Cup, but has grown increasingly solid as the tournament progressed. Switzerland and Belgium were both held scoreless in the knockout stages — the Swiss through 120 minutes — although neither team features an attack as dangerous as the Netherlands. Pablo Zabaleta anchors the back four while his Manchester City teammate Martin Demichelis may again get the nod after performing well against Belgium.

Advantage: Netherlands

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MIDFIELD:

Both teams are without a key piece to their midfield, although the respective effects will be vastly different. Nigel de Jong has long been the Dutch team’s bruiser, a tough tackler who shores up the defense and disrupts the other team’s play — often by any means necessary. His absence because of a groin injury will likely give Lionel Messi more room to maneuver, which could easily prove decisive. Another problem for the Dutch is that Wesley Sneijder — one of the best players at the 2010 World Cup — has looked well past his prime in Brazil.

For Argentina, Angel Di Maria has been one of the team’s best players going forward, constantly using his pace to take on defenders and help create chances for the forwards. With Di Maria sidelined with a thigh injury, Ezequiel Lavezzi will have to take on a bigger role on the wing. Argentina does have a strong foundation in the middle with Javier Mascherano playing in front of the back four and providing both leadership and hard tackles.

Advantage: Argentina

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ATTACK:

This is the area where both teams field world-class players. Dutch duo Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben tore defenses apart in the group stage, scoring three goals each, but have been kept fairly quiet in the knockout rounds. Van Persie was also struggling with a stomach complaint on the eve of the game.

An even bigger problem for the Netherlands is that Argentina’s front line is even more intimidating. With Lionel Messi playing alongside Gonzalo Higuain and the fit-again Sergio Aguero, Argentina has an attack that is unrivaled in international football. Aguero may not start, though, having missed the last two games with a thigh injury. While Argentina has won three of its games by 1-0 scorelines in Brazil, Messi has shown repeatedly that he can provide a winning goal when his team needs it the most.

Advantage: Argentina

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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