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Australia looks to Cahill for goals in World Cup

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer

CUIABA, Brazil (AP) — With his trademark shadow-boxing routine at the corner flag, Australia forward Tim Cahill may provide one of the iconic goal celebrations at this World Cup.

And if anyone is going to score in Brazil for the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, it’s most likely going to be Cahill.

But therein lies the problem for the Socceroos, who are heading into a third straight World Cup with their chances having been written off before a ball has been kicked.

A reliance for goals on a 34-year-old in the twilight of a career spent mostly playing as a midfielder exposes the dearth of forward options for coach Ange Postecoglou in Brazil.

The only other out-and-out striker in the squad is 21-year-old Adam Taggart, who has just four international caps and is playing abroad for the first time.

That lack of a cutting edge is the main reason why Australia has been given little hope in a Group B that contains heavyweights Spain and the Netherlands, as well as first-up opponent Chile on Friday.

“We certainly believe we can be a threat in other areas,” Postecoglou said after a training session in the stifling humidity in western city Cuiaba on Thursday, when asked about Australia’s weakness up front, “but with Timmy, if he does get half a chance in the box, particularly in the air, he can hurt any opposition.

“I’m not worried. If he keeps scoring, I’m going to be happy.”

And no one has scored more goals for the Socceroos than Cahill, whose total has risen to 32 after playing up front for the national team for the past four or five years.

It is a role he sometimes reprised for Everton in his eight years in the English Premier League from 2004-12, with his prodigious spring and the timing of his runs into the penalty area his hallmarks.

In his first full season with MLS side New York Red Bulls in the United States, Cahill was the team’s top scorer with 11 goals in 2013.

“Chile, Holland or Spain, I pretty much know they are not going to be happy to play against me,” Cahill said this week, “because I am going to make it the most difficult 90 minutes, or whatever time I get to play.”

Cahill will have experience behind him in captain Mile Jedinak, the holding midfielder for Premier League team Crystal Palace, and Mark Bresciano, playing in his third World Cup.

But the majority of the team will be sprinkled with youth as Postecoglou bloods a new generation with next year’s Asian Cup at home and the 2018 World Cup in mind.

“People don’t pay attention to us, and that’s fine,” Postecoglou said.

“If you look at the rankings and where we are (No. 62), people see us as outsiders. But that’s OK. We are ready for it.”

An estimated 15,000 Australians have flown to Brazil to cheer on the team, the country’s biggest following at a World Cup.

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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