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Venezuela returns home after elimination from Copa America

Xinhua, June 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Venezuela's national football team returned to Caracas on Tuesday after their elimination from the Copa America 2015 tournament in Chile.

Upon their arrival, the team, known locally as "The Red Wine", was greeted by the Venezuelan Minister for Youth and Sport Pedro Infante and other local sporting authorities at Caracas' Simon Bolivar International Airport.

"The team will continue to improve in order to become a leader in South American football," said Venezuela coach Noel Sanvicente.

"Our team has been a model to follow for many years. However, we need to continue improving and the boys know that to achieve things they have to be daring," said Sanvicente.

Disappointed with the Copa America result, the team is already looking to the future. Venezuela is keen to do well in the preliminary rounds to qualify for the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

"We are on the right track," said the Venezuela coach referring to the team's goal of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in the country's football history.

"Without a doubt it is going to be quite hard but I think that we show that we are ready to face this challenge," added Sanvicente. Endi