Portugal Announce World Cup Squad, Nearly Half Of 2016 Euro Team Miss Out

Portugal are the latest nation to announce their World Cup squad, and there's a few notable absentees.

Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal's charge in Russia, while other star names include Pepe, Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Quaresma, among others.

Image: Portugal

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Jose Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Mario Rui (Napoli), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Ricardo Pereira (Porto), Ruben Dias (Benfica)

Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon), Joao Mario (West Ham), Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Forwards: Andre Silva (AC Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)

But Fernando Santos has omitted some very good players.

Despite steering Wolves' promotion campaign to the Premier League, Ruben Neves is snubbed of a spot.

Neves, 21, actually started for Santos' side in Portugal's friendly victory against Egypt but doesn't make the full squad.

Neves in action for Wolves. Image: PA

Neves celebrates winning the Championship title. Image: PA

Ex-Manchester United winger Nani not to mention Barcelona's Andre Gomes, Bayern Munich's Renato Sanches.

Santos has left out nearly half the 2016 European Championship winning squad.

And he's admitted it hurts him not to be able to include them.

"It hurts not to be able to include all the players who were with us in the European Championship," he said.

"They have all contributed to writing a brilliant chapter in the history of Portuguese football, but I had to make choices that for me make a better puzzle."

Portugal line up for the 2016 Euro final. Image: PA

Ronaldo raises international silverware. Image: PA

Portugal head into the World Cup as defending European Championship winners.

They open their summer venture against Spain on 15th June.

Can Ronaldo lead Portugal to another major international title?

Let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Topics: Football News, Football, Portugal, World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@https://twitter.com/NasJabbar