Disinterested with learning in the classroom, Assou-Ekotto dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue his sporting ambition.

CNN: January 23, 2013 -- Updated 1738 GMT (0138 HKT)

However, in truth Sporting were the superior team and Everton, who lacked ambition until it was far too late, rarely looked like breaching the opposition defence.

BBC: Sporting L 3-0 Everton (agg 4-2)

Certainly the words loyalty, fanaticism, pleasure-seeking, competitiveness, ambition and struggle could be applied to that great mid-winter sporting festival known simply as "origin rugby".

BBC: State of Origin