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Groin tear likely ends Nigel de Jong’s World Cup

By WTOP Staff

MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong’s World Cup appears to be over after tests confirmed he has a tear in his groin muscle and will be sidelined for 2-to-4 weeks.

The Dutch football association said Tuesday that an MRI scan revealed the injury, almost certainly ruling one of the Dutch team’s top performers out of the tournament.

The 29-year-old AC Milan midfielder limped off the field in the ninth minute of the Netherlands’ 2-1 comeback win over Mexico on Sunday in the second round. After the match, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said the injury looked serious and that De Jong’s absence would be a “blood-letting” for the team.

In his first reaction, De Jong tweeted: “Devastated with the news about my injury. Sadly enough this is part of the sport as well. Will work hard on my recovery now and keep hope.”

De Jong had been in outstanding form in Brazil, dominating the midfield with tough, well-timed tackles and helping create a platform for the front pair of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.

The tournament in Brazil was something of a rehabilitation of the reputation of a player remembered by most for his crunching, chest-high tackle on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final four years ago, an incident that earned him a yellow card.

The former Manchester City, Hamburg and Ajax player also was dropped from the Dutch team later in 2010 after a tackle in the Premier League left Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.

But he has an unblemished disciplinary record in Brazil and Van Gaal singled him out for praise — something the coach rarely does to any of his players — after the gritty 3-2 win over Australia in the group stage.

“I never like to put individual players in the spotlight,” Van Gaal said. “But the way Nigel de Jong led from the front was imposing.”

The Dutch football association said De Jong will stay with the team in Brazil as he works on his recovery.

De Jong’s injury is the latest blow to the Dutch midfield. Last week, Leroy Fer strained a hamstring in training a day after scoring the crucial opening goal a minute after coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Chile.

Fer missed the Mexico match in Fortaleza and is in doubt for the quarterfinal match on Saturday against Costa Rica in Salvador.

Before the tournament even started, injury robbed Van Gaal of two key midfielders — AS Roma workhorse Kevin Strootman and veteran creative midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Now Van Gaal is running short on options. On Sunday, he moved Daley Blind out of defense to plug the gap left by De Jong.

The coach also has Feyenoord midfielder Jordie Clasie in his 23-man squad. Clasie is a tough tackler, but does not have De Jong’s imposing presence and nowhere near his experience. De Jong played in his 75th international on Sunday, while Clasie, who has not yet played in Brazil, has made only eight appearances since making his debut in 2012.

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Follow Mike Corder on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/mikecorder

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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