Greek soccer fans were proud for their team in the 2014 Brazil World Cup despite the sad loss to Costa Rica in the round of 16 game late Sunday.

Greece lost 5-3 in the penalty shootout, but still made history, since it was the first time the national team reached the round of 16 in a World Cup.

In 2004 in their best result up to today in a major tournament Greeks won the European Championship surprising bookmakers and fans worldwide.

On Sunday night thousands of Greeks across the country watched the match in central squares and despite the initial disappointment they applauded their team's overall performance.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras congratulated the players. "All Greeks are proud of our national squad. Congratulations to everybody," he said.

The Greek Premier promised the construction of a training center for the national team as soon as possible responding to a request made by the players.

"We do not want extra bonus. We are playing only for Greece and Greek peoples. What we want is your support in efforts to construct a sports center for the national team," the players had written in a letter addressed to the Premier.

"We wanted to spread joy to Greeks. Unfortunately this is football... We were not lucky. And now we are sad, but proud," said the team's 37-year-old captain Yorgos Karagounis, who retired after the game.

"Sad but proud" was the title of the report on private television channel Antenna and most Greek media on Monday.

"For a moment we all believed that we could win. But in football there is only one winner and last night it was Costa Rica," the report said.