"We lost yesterday but it doesn't matter, they were fantastic days," read the headline in daily tabloid 24Horas after the team's 3-1 loss to hosts Germany on Saturday.

"Portugal pleased with fourth place in its 'final' with Germany," said daily newspaper Diario de Noticias on its front page.

Portugal had only ever been to three World Cups before this year's finals and failed to get past the first round in two of them.

Their greatest triumph was making the semifinals in 1966, where they lost to England 2-1 and went on to finish in third place.

Portugal's loss to Germany, with two goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and an own goal by Petit, was also Luis Figo's last with the Portuguese national team and many newspapers expressed sadness at his international retirement.

"We already miss Figo," said sports daily A Bola on its front page while rival paper O Jogo ran the headline "Thanks and so long" beside a photo of the Portugal captain waving to supporters at the end of the third-place playoff.

Some newspapers lamented the fact that Figo's last match did not end with a win for the team he made 127 appearances for.

"Figo didn't deserve to say goodbye this way," said daily newspaper Publico in an opinion piece.

"Bitter goodbye," said top-selling daily Correio da Manha on its front cover beside a photo of Figo walking off the pitch in Germany.