Venezuela's media offered fulsome praise and sympathy to the national side on Thursday after their unlucky Copa America semi-final exit to Paraguay.
Paraguay survived a goal ruled out for offside and three efforts which hit their woodwork to reach Sunday's final against Uruguay after coming out tops in a penalty shoot-out.
But for Venezuela's media their team were the moral victors.
The story dominated front pages on Thursday.
"You went down in style, showing the greater courage and strength," wrote El Nacional.
The same paper lamented that "Lady Luck turned her back on Venezuela and protected the goal of Justo Villar," Paraguay's goalkeeper.
"Mission accomplished," was how sports daily Meridiano saw a match which ended in a disappointment but still showed the Venezuelans have been transformed from traditional whipping boys into a competitive side which can now hope to reach the World Cup finals for the first time.
El Universal meanwhile concluded: "They did everything" to win and added the team "deserves a standing ovation."
Sports daily Lider blared "You are our champions - the Vinotinto battled valiantly."
And Lider noted there was still third place to play for against Peru on Saturday at La Plata.
"Our boys are still making history - 30 million rounds of applause for you," wrote Lider.
Source: AFP
