Thousands of Colombian fans crowded the streets of Bogota on Sunday to welcome their national soccer team, who lost to Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals last Friday.

The Colombian team arrived in Eldorado International Airport in Bogota on Sunday morning and they were transported in an open top bus that travelled several streets towards reaching Simon Bolivar Metropolitan Park, where some 125,000 people waited for their heroes.

The 23 players and coach Jose Pekerman were presented in a stage and cheered several minutes by the crowd. The team also danced in the stage.

"I greet all the Colombian people because we always feel them very close and they gave us all the strength at every moment. Colombia gave a huge step and it is an awakening, we have a marvellous generation. We are as good as the best teams. It was a great satisfaction to work with this group," said Pekerman.

The team thanked the support given by the Colombian people during the 2014 World Cup and for the amazing welcome given by thousands in Bogota.

"Thank you, Colombia. In the name of the group we want to thank you and also I want to recall someone who is not here but still is part of the process: (Radamel) Falcao, we love you very much. He is watching this," said James Rodriguez, who leads Brazil 2014's top scorers list with six goals.

After the event in Simon Bolivar park, the Colombian team travelled to the headquarters of Colombian Football Federation where they met President Juan Manuel Santos, who congratulated them for their outstanding performance in Brazil.

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