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Portuguese manager Fernando Santos announced a strong 35-man preliminary World cup squad for the 2018 FIFA World cup beginning next month. As expected, several mainstays who won the 2016 Euro in France made the squad. Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Joao Moutinho, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and William Cravalho made the cut. While there are also some surprise exclusions in the squad announced for the showcase event which will take place in Russia from June 14- July 15.
Portugal are in a tricky Group B where they are clubbed alongside the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain, Morocco and Asian heavyweights, Iran. They begin their campaign their World Cup campaign against their neighbors, Spain on June 15 at Sochi.
Let us now look at the players who failed to make it to Portugal's Preliminary 2018 World Cup squad.
Renato Sanches
Apart from being a part of the Portuguese squad that won the 2016 Euro at France, Sanches also won the Young Player of Tournament award. Sanches, who scored a solitary goal in that tournament was the recipient of 2016 Golden Boy award as he became the youngest to win the European title. The former Benfica player earned a lucrative contract at Bayern Munich, in a deal that was worth €35 million after his dream run in the 2016 Euro. Sanches who played 25 games across all competitions for Bayern in the 2016-17 season, failed to appear on the score sheet.
Following his poor stint with the Bavarians, he was loaned out to Swansea City on 31 August 2017. But he failed to impress after his loan move to the Premier League club. So far, Sanches has made just 13 appearances for the Portuguese National side after making his debut on March 25, 2016, and has found the back of the net just once. A versatile midfielder, he can play in any roles according to the team's needs.
Once regarded as the next biggest thing in world football, his career hit rock-bottom after his unsuccessful stints in the Bundesliga and the Premier League. His exclusion from the World cup squad has further dented the youngster's hopes of re-announcing himself to the football fraternity.
Rafa Silva
The former Braga midfielder has been playing for Benfica since 2016. Apart from winning the 2016-17 Portuguese league title with Benfica, Silva has also won two Portuguese Cups in his career- in 2016 with Braga and 2017 with Benfica. He has been an integral part of the Benfica setup this season, with three goals and five assists in 20 league appearances. The attacking midfielder, who loves to dribble and provide layoffs, has played in numerous positions in his career- right midfielder, attacking left and as a forward. In the last ten matches for Benfica this season, he has been brilliant scoring three goals and winning the Man of the match once against Feirense.
Silva was part of the Portuguese Under 21 squad that finished as the runners-up in the 2015 FIFA Under 21 European Championship. He was also a part of Portugal's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad but did he did not get his chance to don the jersey. Silva, who made his senior team debut in 2014 against Cameroon, has represented Portugal in 10 games so far. He was part of the victorious Portuguese Euro 2016 squad, making his debut in the tournament against Austria in a 0-0 draw at Paris after coming in as a substitute. His World Cup and Euro experience would have been an advantage for the Portuguese had he been selected in the squad.
Danilo Pereira
The defensive midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Porto, was part of 2016 Euro winning squad. His rise has been meteoric after signing with the Portuguese champions in 2015. The 26-year-old was on the Arsenal radar last season after a series of brilliant performances for title-winning Porto side.
He was part of the Portuguese Under-20 squad that finished as the runners-up in 2011 FIFA Under 20 World cup in Colombia. Pereira was also part of Portugal's 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup squad, where they finished third. Pereira is a player who likes to play short passes and is someone who is so strong in taking set-pieces and in the aerial duels. In 27 appearances for Portugal, the former Benfica reject has managed to score a solitary goal. Portugal will no doubt miss his presence in their central midfield at Russia.
