USA World Cup 1994 star Alexi Lalas was downing shots with Metallica after their last-16 exit to Brazil.

The iconic defender – who admitted he was barely recognised before the tournament – helped lead the side into the knockout stages.

And when they lost 1-0 to eventual tournament winners Brazil, huge ginger centre-back Lalas consoled himself with alcohol.

He told the Daily Mail that necking tequila and Jagermeister with legendary American rock band Metallica was his way of getting over the defeat.

Brother Greg, another former player, explained how fellow long-haired celebs James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich – both band members – were at the team’s afterparty near the Stanford Stadium, California.

He wrote online: “I nearly lost it. I was a huge fan and used to cover ‘Fade to Black’ with a band in college.

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“And here was the heart and soul of Metallica standing in front of me. Wearing US national team jerseys. In a bathroom in Palo Alto. How absurd!

“But it didn’t end there. While the Metallica guys were talking about the game with Alexi, a small unassuming man and his young son walked in.

“They, too, stopped to say hi. It was Robin Williams. This was crazy!

“How many times had I watched Dead Poet’s Society and The Fisher King? And now he was standing in front of me, too. In a bathroom in Palo Alto.”

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Greg admitted that although the team were gutted and also surrounded by Brazilians still celebrating, they joined in with the fun.

It was the first time in 60 years that USA had got beyond the group stage and it came on home soil during a dramatic summer.

Alexi, who had been close to retirement before being called up for the squad, went on to earn a transfer to Padova in Serie A, becoming the first American to play in the league.

He made it to the 1998 World Cup as well but did not play.

Lalas was present for every minute of the ’94 tournament and watched the OJ Simpson car chase the night before being due up at 6am for their first match against Switzerland.

He said: “I remember turning to Brad Friedel, who was my roommate, and saying: ‘OJ is going to keep me up before the biggest game of my life.’

“You couldn’t put the remote control down. Then, obviously, we’re talking about it at breakfast the next morning.”

Simpson led police around for 60 miles live on TV, gripping the country before the players got a 1-1 draw.

They then beat Colombia to reach the knockouts.

Lalas remembers opposition defender Andres Escobar, who scored an own goal in that game and was shot dead when he returned home.

The American reflected: “If we were able to lose that game and Andres was still here, we would gladly lose.”

And although USA could not make it past Brazil, it meant that Lalas got to watch the final.

Beforehand he chilled with footballing royalty Pele.

He became one of the most recognisable players and had many a story to show for his experience.