Best Efforts By a "Foreign" Manager at the World Cup

Thomas Tuchel will look to make history at this summer's World Cup as he attempts to lead England to glory for the first time since 1966. Should the German boss succeed in his quest, he will become the first manager ever to win the storied tournament in charge of a nation that is not his own. In fact, only three nations since the turn of the millennium have even made it to the semifinals without a native in charge. 

Online betting sites think that Tuchel and England could well break that barren spell this summer. The bookies make England a genuine contender to win the World Cup in North America, pricing them as a 6/1 third-favourite behind Spain (9/2) and France (5/1). The popular implied probability calculator indicates that the Three Lions have a 14.29% chance of ending 60 years of hurt, and if they are to do exactly that, they will need to follow in the footsteps of these three. 

Belgium - 2018 

Spanish manager Roberto Martinex was the man tasked with leading Belgium's golden generation towards glory, and the former Everton and Wigan boss came close. With a squad containing the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany, and many more, the Red Devils reached the quarterfinals in 2014 before being knocked out by Lionel Messi and Argentina. Four years later, they would go one better. 

The Belgians headed to Russia in 2018 as a side stacked with quality. In fact, the bookies made them contenders, overlooking their non-existent pedigree in favour of the spectacular squad of players they'd managed to assemble. They topped Group G ahead of England after winning all three games and scoring nine goals in the process. But it was in the knockout round that they truly came into their own. 

Belgium shockingly found themselves 2-0 down to Japan in the Round of 16 with just 21 minutes remaining. Then, goals from Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, and a last-gasp winner from Nacer Chadli sealed a sensational 3-2 win. In the quarterfinals, they would then dispatch outright favourites Brazil after an early Fernandinho own goal and a rocket from De Bruyne saw the Red Devils 2-0 up after barely half an hour. The Selecao would strike back through Renato Augusto, but it was too little too late, and Belgium clung on to a famous win and a maiden semifinal appearance. 

In the final four, they would come up against neighbours France, and Les Bleus proved a much tougher nut to crack. Didier Deschamps' men took the lead shortly after the break through a Samuel Umtiti header, and they wouldn't look back, winning 1-0 and progressing to the final. Belgium would ultimately secure the bronze medal, confirming the best-ever performance by a nation with an overseas manager. 

Portugal - 2006 

Luiz Felipe Scolari led his homeland of Brazil to a fifth World Cup crown in 2002, but within a month of hoisting the trophy in Yokohama, he had resigned from his post. Three months later, he was appointed manager of the Portuguese national team, and he would begin impressively, leading his new side to the final of Euro 2004 on home turf before being upset by rank outsiders Greece. 

Two years later, he led a stacked Portuguese squad containing the likes of Luis Figo, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, and a 21-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to the World Cup in Germany. And under Big Phil, the Seleção das Quinas were about to go on a run for the ages. 

They topped Group D at a canter, winning all three games and conceding just one goal. They would then embark upon back-to-back ill-tempered affairs. Firstly, they beat the Netherlands in the Battle of Nuremberg, winning 1-0 after Maniche's first-half strike amidst a whopping 16 yellow and four red cards being dished out. They would then beat England on penalties after a red card for talismanic Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney, marking the third straight tournament that Scolari had beaten the English at the quarterfinal stage. 

In the semifinals, however, Big Phil and Portugal would come unstuck. They were unable to find a way past a staunch French back line, ultimately losing 1-0 after Zinedine Zidane's first-half penalty. They would also lose the third-place playoff to hosts Germany. 

South Korea - 2002 

Little was thought of South Korea back in 2002. The tournament cohosts alongside Japan were managed by legendary Dutchman Guus Hiddink, but they were still one of the rank outsiders. Even so, they rode the wave of home support — and some more than dubious officiating — to shock the world and reach the semifinals. 

They would surprisingly top Group D with two wins and one draw, eliminating Portugal in the process. But it was in the knockout round that their run truly gathered steam, and controversy. They firstly beat a star-studded Italy team in the Round of 16, netting an 88th-minute equaliser through Seol Ki-hyeon and a 117th-minute golden goal via Ahn Jung-hwan after a myriad of controversial decisions went against the Azzurri. They would then beat Spain on penalties after a goalless draw in the quarterfinals, with more decisions going in their favour. 

Their luck would run out in the semis when they were downed by Germany after Michael Ballack's late winner, but not before embarking on arguably the greatest underdog run in World Cup history.