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Dirk Kuyt drops into defense as Dutch beat Chile

By WTOP Staff

MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — To call Dirk Kuyt a utility player doesn’t quite do the Fenerbahce forward justice.

On Monday, in his 99th international appearance for the Netherlands, he was playing at left back. For the first time.

No matter. The ever versatile 33-year-old fit right into his new role as he helped shut down Chile’s free-flowing attack at the World Cup. The Dutch won 2-0 at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo to top Group B with a perfect record of three straight victories.

“I enjoyed it,” Kuyt said. “I never played in this position but the coach told me a couple of weeks ago that it could be a possibility during the tournament and I told him that I would be ready for it and I was very happy I get the chance.”

Kuyt has been a mainstay for the Netherlands team for years since making his debut nearly a decade ago.

He’s played up front as a winger, striker and in midfield, famous for his work ethic and fitness.

That was part of the reason Van Gaal put him on the left of defense against Chile in a 5-3-2 formation.

“It’s about having your team play according to its qualities,” master tactician Louis van Gaal, the Dutch coach, said.

Kuyt gives him quality where ever he is on the pitch.

Van Gaal said he decided against playing the traditional 4-3-3 formation that for years was the bedrock of attacking Dutch “total football” because his forwards would then have to defend Chile’s left and right backs and it would sap their energy.

“They couldn’t do that for 90 minutes and that means we could be outclassed,” Van Gaal said.

Enter Kuyt, who always gives his all for the team, whichever club, whichever position.

After breaking through into professional football with FC Utrecht, he made his name at Feyenoord, where he was top scorer for three straight seasons. That earned him a transfer to Liverpool where he became an Anfield crowd favorite and regular goal scorer. After falling out of favor on Merseyside, he transferred to Fenerbahce and kept playing well enough in Turkey to keep him in Van Gaal’s international setup.

A regular starter at the 2010 World Cup, Kuyt has waited patiently in the wings for his first opportunity in Brazil.

When it came, he grabbed it, giving Chile no space on the right and freeing up forwards like Arjen Robben to concentrate on creating goals at the other end.

“I think it went very well,” Kuyt said, “and hopefully I will get another chance.”

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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