The Greek national football team is returning to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” at 6.30 p.m. today after its World Cup loss against Costa Rica. Greek football fans are expected to hail the players as heroes after they managed to make history, qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup by making it to the “16” for the first time ever.

The squad, despite exceeding expectations, is reflective after its unlucky exit with changes expected now that the team’s Portuguese manager Fernando Santos is bowing out. Under his leadership, the team played 30 official games with 18 wins, eight ties and just four defeats.

Italian football manager and former defender Claudio Ranieri will take over the team without the participation of Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis who announced his retirement after 139 caps.The line-up of players is expected to be tweaked before Greece vs. Finland in Romania on October 11.