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A look at some of the best goals at the World Cup

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS LEHOURITES
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Robin van Persie scored one of the most eye-catching goals of the World Cup with a diving header, and James Rodriguez blasted in one of the tournament’s most spectacular after controlling the ball with his chest and volleying home from outside the area.

The world will be treated to quite a spectacle if Germany and Argentina — maybe another superb goal from Lionel Messi? — can match those memorable goals in Sunday’s final at the Maracana Stadium.

But before the final kicks off, here’s a look back at some of the best goals of this year’s World Cup, in no particular order:

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Netherlands striker Robin van Persie against Spain, first round

Van Persie’s goal started with a 40-yard pass from Daley Blind, who launched the ball from just inside the halfway line. With Van Persie running through the middle of the Spain defense, the charging Manchester United forward flung himself forward to meet it inside the area, diving at full stretch and sending his delicate header sailing over a helpless Iker Casillas in goal.

“I saw Casillas standing a bit in front of the goal, so I decided to go for a loop,” Van Persie said. “It just could not have been more perfect. These kinds of goals are scored once in a lifetime.”

The goal came in the 45th minute, making the score 1-1. The Dutch then poured in four more to rout the defending champions 5-1.

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Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez against Uruguay, second round

Rodriguez provided one of the best goals of the tournament with a swivel-and-volley move that left fans gasping in delight. He chested the ball down with his back to goal well outside the area and in one fluid motion turned around and fired a left-foot volley that went off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Rodriguez scored a second goal in the same match, and Colombia reached the quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory.

“From what I’ve seen so far, he’s is the best player of the World Cup,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said after the match.

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Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi against Iran, first round

Messi has scored scores of goals in his career, but it was a late strike against Iran that stands out at this year’s World Cup for both its beauty and its importance.

The Argentina forward used the outside of his foot to scoop the ball to the left, took three quick steps and shot just before Iran forward Reza Ghoochannejad could stretch his leg out to block it.

“Only Messi could score that goal,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said. “He was cool, calm, he found the right moment, the right space. Because only a player with that dimension has the ability to strike a goal like that.”

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Brazil defender David Luiz against Colombia, quarterfinals

As a defender, Luiz is more known for stopping goals. But the Brazilian scored a beauty in Fortaleza.

Lining up 35 meters (yards) out, the 27-year-old Brazilian side-footed the ball with his right boot, sending it over a defensive wall of four and beyond the reach of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.

It was a special goal, and it left many wondering how he was able to get such precision off the side of his foot.

“I think it’s genetic. I was born with legs like that,” Luiz said, spreading his hands apart like two feet sticking out toward opposite sides. “In Brazil, they call it ’10-to-2.'”

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Australia forward Tim Cahill against the Netherlands, first round

Shortly after Australia fell behind 1-0, Cahill ran onto to a looping pass from Ryan McGowan and hit a perfectly-timed volley with his weaker left foot from about 11 yards out.

Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen jumped for it, but soon just turned around to pick it out of the net.

“When you look at your idols like (Marco) Van Basten, even Robin van Persie, these are the kind of goals they score,” Cahill said. “That’s what football is all about, these moments, and what better place to do it than the home of football in Brazil.”

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United States forward Clint Dempsey against Ghana, first round

Dempsey scored his first goal of the tournament only 30 seconds into the match, the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history.

DaMarcus Beasley started the buildup with a pass to Jermaine Jones, who fed it to Dempsey inside the penalty area. Then, after a nifty move to split Ghana defenders John Boye and Sulley Muntari, Dempsey sent the left-foot shot past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, where the ball bounced off the post and in.

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Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri against Honduras, first round

Shaqiri collected the ball outside the top right corner of the area, dribbled to avoid a pair of defenders and then launched a curling shot toward the top left corner of the net that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares came nowhere near it, and then let in two more from Shaqiri in a 3-0 loss.

“He is short. He is fast. He is mobile,” Switzerland captain Gokhan Inler said of Shaqiri a few days later. “The good thing for us is that he can’t be figured out easily.”

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Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez against Japan, first round

After qualifying for the second round after only two games, Rodriguez was on the bench resting for the third group match against Japan. But when he came on for the second half, he scored another highlight-reel goal.

The Colombia playmaker finished off a sublime individual display by twisting and turning through a tired Japanese defense and chipping in an astonishing goal with a minute left.

“It’s incredible to see,” Colombia teammate Jackson Martinez said. “He is playing a very important role in the World Cup.”

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Netherlands forward Arjen Robben against Spain, first round

Robben had already scored one goal in the rout over Spain, but his second was done with awe-inspiring speed.

The Netherlands forward collected a long pass from Daley Blind and then out-raced Spain defender Gerard Pique down the field. As he approached the area, Iker Casillas came out to cut down the angle, but the Spain goalkeeper got himself tangled up as Robben twisted around before scoring with a shot past both Pique and Sergio Ramos.

“This is just pure enjoyment,” Robben said. “I’m top fit this season and this is a beautiful confirmation of that.”

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Germany forward Andre Schuerrle against Algeria, second round

Schuerrle provided one of the most subtle of the top goals with his heel, but it was the one that finally gave Germany the lead in extra time against Algeria.

Thomas Mueller provided a cross from the left flank that was slightly behind Schuerrle. The Germany forward dragged his left leg and backheeled the ball into the far corner.

Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi had no chance, and Germany moved on.

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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