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Without Vidal, Chile flat against the Netherlands

By WTOP Staff

ARON HELLER
Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — Without star midfielder Arturo Vidal, Chile looked nothing like the powerhouse that knocked defending champion Spain out of the World Cup.

One of the most attacking and attractive teams at the tournament thus far, Chile started out with its trademark style but faded quickly as the Dutch established their dominance and earned a 2-0 victory Monday.

Vidal, the Juventus standout, underwent knee surgery last month and hurt his right Achilles tendon while in Brazil. He had started the team’s first two games, both impressive wins over Australia and Spain, and insisted he was fit to play again.

But with Chile having already qualified for the next round, coach Jorge Sampaoli chose to keep his best player on the bench.

Without him, Chile mustered only seven shots in the game — a single one on target — and gave little support to Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez, who often looked like he was struggling alone out on the pitch. A hopeless long range-shot by Sanchez in the 56th minute that sailed high only highlighted his frustrations.

Sampaoli did not address the decision in his post-game comments.

“We had the idea of winning. That is why we invested our all, the best we have for this game and we couldn’t find the solution to a team that only defended itself and only aspired to have long strikes,” he said. “Our intention was to bring down the hard wall of the Dutch defense.”

Stand-in Dutch defender Dirk Kuyt said the Dutch strategy was successful.

“Chile wanted to attack us and they didn’t create many chances,” he said.

With the loss, Chile finished second in Group B and will now play the winner of Group A — likely host Brazil.

Chile has a long, painful history with its fellow South American nation.

Four years ago it was eliminated by Brazil in the round of 16. On the last two occasions that Chile have reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup, in 1998 and 2002, they were also eliminated by Brazil.

“We will play against whoever comes,” Sampaoli said. “It can be Brazil, Mexico, Croatia; whoever comes it will be very intense.”

Regardless of the opponent, Vidal said there was no way he was going to miss the next game.

“You suffer more on the bench than on the pitch,” he said. “The first two matches were very though, and the knee was pleading for a little respite. That’s what the coach considered, and besides I had the yellow card. This rest will help me a lot”.

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Follow Aron Heller on Twitter @aronhellerap

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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