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Spain vs Netherlands, the rematch

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The big rematch between Spain and Netherlands has come around quickly. The teams that played in the final of the last World Cup meet again on Day 2 in Brazil.

The 2014 tournament kicked off with host nation Brazil beating Croatia 3-1 after conceding an early own goal on Thursday. The Group B clash between defending champion Spain and Netherlands is one of three games set for Friday.

Here are some things to look for:

NO COMPARISON: Dutch winger Arjen Robben has consigned his team’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2010 final to history, saying he doesn’t believe in revenge and there’s no way to compare a group game with a title decider.

That doesn’t mean there’ll be any less ferocity in the tackles.

On the eve of the rematch, coach Louis van Gaal defended the tough tackling in the 2010 final that resulted in a total of 13 yellow cards, one red card and wide criticism for his predecessor. That sounds like a cue for more of the same.

Van Gaal signaled he’s considering playing five defenders to stifle Spain’s slick-passing forwards in a further sign that the attacking “total football” style of the Dutch teams of the 1970s and ’80s has been supplanted by a tough, uncompromising focus on defense.

And they train as they intend to play — Robben was floored twice in tackles in practice this week and midfield playmaker Wesley Sneijder was left wincing in pain after a tackle from behind by Nigel de Jong.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes his team is in its prime and determined to continue a winning run in major events that started at Euro 2008.

Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa is expected to start up front for a Spain, which will likely be relying on a midfield containing David Silva, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets to help the team dominate possession.

Fabregas will be playing a day after announcing he is leaving Barcelona to return to Chelsea on a five-year deal.

Venue: Salvador. Kickoff: 4 p.m. local time (3 p.m. in New York, 8 p.m. in London, 4 a.m. in Tokyo).

VIDAL AVAILABLE? Midfield playmaker Arturo Vidal could make an earlier than expected comeback from injury to play in Chile’s World Cup opener against Australia.

Vidal, who had knee surgery last month, practiced well this week, leading coach Jorge Sampaoli to say it was “highly likely” the Juventus star would be fit before Chile’s game against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.

Most of the pre-tournament attention in Group B has focused on the 2010 finalists Spain and Netherlands, but the way the Chileans have risen steadily in the rankings has many pundits — even Brazil great Pele — picking them to progress out of the group.

If Vidal doesn’t play, the attacking thrust will fall mostly on speedy Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, who is among the players who’ve benefited from Sampaoli’s expansive and high-tempo tactics and is more than capable of exploiting any weaknesses in the inexperienced Australian defense.

Australia, which has slid down to No. 62 in the FIFA rankings since its run to the second round in 2006, will need some moments of genius from New York Red Bulls star Tim Cahill to have any chance against Chile.

Venue: Cuiaba. Kickoff: 6 p.m. local time (6 p.m. in New York, 11 p.m. in London, 7 a.m. in Tokyo).

MONEY TALKS: Cameroon’s players arrived late for the World Cup after belatedly resolving a bonus payment dispute with their national federation. Now they’re under pressure to show why they’re worth it.

With players like Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o and Barcelona’s Alex Song, Cameroon is capable of advancing out of Group A. But they need to put the bonus flap, and a disappointing three losses at the last World Cup, behind them and concentrate on Mexico.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera is set to leave Manchester United forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez on the bench and give starts up front to Villarreal forward Giovanni Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta, the star of Mexico’s gold-medal win at the London Olympics.

Venue: Natal. Kickoff: 1 p.m. local time (noon in New York, 5 p.m. in London, 1 a.m. in Tokyo).

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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