GOAL

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. 

Meanwhile, Fabio Coentrao has also been omitted from the preliminary squad having asked Fernando Santos not to be selected due to being left physically exhausted by a "very tiring" season.

The 30-year-old, who spent the 2017-18 season playing for Sporting CP on loan from Real Madrid, confirmed his decision in an Instagram post.

  Na semana passada, depois de uma grande ponderação, dei conta ao Selecionador Nacional que, após uma época muito desgastante, sinto não estar nas condições necessárias para representar a Seleção numa prova com a exigência do Campeonato do Mundo. Jamais virarei as costas ao meu País, e espero poder vir a representar a nossa Seleção mais vezes no futuro. Até lá sou e serei sempre mais um a torcer por fora, até breve. Boa sorte pessoal. 🇵🇹 A post shared by Fábio Coentrão (@fabio_coentrao) on May 14, 2018 at 8:01am PDT

"I will never turn my back on my country, and hope to be able to represent our national team more often in the future.

"Until then, I am and I will always be one to cheer on the outside, see you soon. Good luck guys."

Unsurprisingly Selecao captain Ronaldo is included among the call-ups, while there is also a place for veteran playmaker Ricardo Quaresma. 

Ronaldo likely will not in action when Portugal takes to the field in a friendly against Tunisia on May 28, which is two days after Real Madrid's Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev. It is the first of three friendlies for the Selecao, who then battle Belgium on June 2 and Algeria on June 6 to close out their World Cup preparations.

The nation will then square off in Group B at the World Cup, which opens with a match up against Iberian neighbors Spain on June 15, followed by game against nearby Morocco on June 20. The nation ends its group stage against Iran on June 25.

While Santos has named a full 35-man preliminary roster, he is expected to quickly cut his side down to the 23 he plans to take to Russia in the next few days. 

Portugal preliminary squad in full: 

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)