XtraTime Web Desk: Portugal announces their 35-men provisional squad for Russia. As usual, all eyes are on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Renato Sanches is a sensational absence for Portugal in the 2018 World Cup, failing to find a place even among the Euro 2016 winner’s preliminary 35-man squad announced on Monday.
Sanches played six out of seven games as an 18-year-old in France as the side led by Cristiano Ronaldo took their first-ever international title.
But he has failed to shine at either Bayern Munich or Swansea City since then, and will play no part in manager Fernando Santos’ squad for the World Cup finals.
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe), Rui Patrício (Sporting)
Defenders: Antunes (Getafe), Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cédric Soares (Southampton), João Cancelo (Inter), José Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Luís Neto (Fenerbahçe), Mário Rui (Nápoles), Nélson Semedo (Barcelona), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto), Rolando (Marselha) e Rúben Dias (Benfica)
Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester), André Gomes (Barcelona), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), João Mário (West Ham), João Moutinho (Mónaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv), Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton), Sérgio Oliveira (FC Porto), William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards: André Silva (Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lokomotiv), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Guedes (Valência), Nani (Lazio), Paulinho (SC Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Ronny Lopes (Mónaco)