Intro:

Uruguay were given a hero's welcome upon their arrival back home in Montevideo, despite their second round elimination from the World Cup.

Script:

Uruguay's World Cup squad, without striker Luis Suarez, were welcomed home by supporters at Montevideo's international airport on Sunday night, following the team's elimination from the World Cup in Brazil.

Oscar Tavarez's team were knocked out of the tournament following a 2-0 defeat in the second round by Colombia in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

Suarez was unable to play after being thrown out of the World Cup for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in their final Group D game on Tuesday.

And some fans think that his ban was one of the reasons for the defeat.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura, Last name not given, Uruguay football fan:

"We're out (of the World Cup) due to what happened. I think that with (Luis) Suarez, I don't know if we would have won, but the match would have been different. But after what FIFA did to us…"

Elimination could mean the end of a chapter for the Uruguayan national team, with the 2014 World Cup likely to be the last for several players in an aging side.