TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's Euro 2016 squad was welcomed home on Thursday with a formal red-carpet ceremony and National Guard troops on its return from the country's first ever participation at a European Championship.

Prime Minister Edi Rama greeted the players at Tirana International Airport before they boarded an open-top bus.

Albania scored its first goal in a major tournament to beat Romania 1-0 and finish third in Group A. But narrow losses to Switzerland and host France cost it a place in the knockout stages as one of the best third-place finishers.

The players will receive the symbolic key to Tirana and applications for diplomatic passports, to highlight their informal role as ambassadors for Albania. They will also visit a fan zone, featuring a DJ and music, to meet supporters.