"If you're going to lose in a World Cup then lose 

"If you're going to lose in a World Cup then lose to the ultimate champions, and certainly that Brazil team was very good," Lalas says.

"Then it was over, just like that. Everything stopped, you take a breath and realise you played a role in changing the way people look at the game. We certainly felt pride that we'd left something and we'd lived up to some of the expectations.

"I milked it for all it was worth and burned the candle at both ends over the year and don't regret any of it. I loved every minute and I remain incredibly proud of what happened."

As for Milutinovic, his mission was accomplished. He went on to manage Nigeria and China at the World Cups of 1998 and 2006 respectively, meaning he has led a joint-record five different nations at the finals - level with with Carlos Alberto Parreira, another with legendary status among the coaching fraternity.

But he wouldn't experience anything like he did with the US vintage of 1994 again.