He doesn't don the No.10 jersey for no reason, he also swears by it. Brazil U-17 midfielder Alan de Sousa was very much the playmaker on Thursday when the junior Selecao had their first taste of playing a match in India. Carlos Amadeu's boys faced an exhausted New Zealand side at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri on Thursday. Introduced early in the second half along with Victor Bobsin, the Palmeiras teenager took complete control of the central midfield along with Marcos Antonio. Alan combined well with Bobsin and the duo were instrumental in the build up to the two goals both scored by Brenner da Silva.

Alan has been right on the money for the Green and Yellows in every game. During the South American U-17 Championship this year, he registered a hat-trick in Brazil's 5-0 win over Chile in the final. Although he just touches 5'5 feet, he felt his height actually works in his favour. "Everybody asks me about my height, but for me it helps. I am more agile because of my height when I face taller players. They cannot get me as I'm faster than them," Alan told mid-day after the team's practice yesterday. The colts have been together as a unit from 2015, an aspect Alan reckons is one of their secrets. "Outside the pitch as well we share a good relationship and this we can translate on the field as well," he said.