Argentina arguably has the World Cup's most fervent fans, known for their rhythmical singing, incessant drumming and trance-like ferocity.The country's history of success at the World Cup 맥스카지노� champions in 1978 and 1986, and runners-up three times 맥스카지노� is rivaled by few. This fervor will only grow as Lionel Messi leads Argentina against defending champion France in Sunday's final in Qatar.The World Cup is followed almost everywhere 맥스카지노� Brazil to Belgium, Morocco to Mexico, and Saudi Arabia to Spain. But few fans are as intense Argentina's, or as large in numbers in Qatar.맥스카지노�Above that, people are quite proud of that intensity,맥스카지노� said Santiago Alles, who teaches political science at the University of San Andres in Argentina. 맥스카지노�This is something that we are good at, and we care the most about it.맥스카지노� National prideInflation in Argentina is running at 100%, unemployment is high and economic growth is slow, and politics are rancorous. But none of that matters during the World Cup. Even opposition political parties call a truce, knowing there is only space for upbeat talk about soccer.맥스카지노�For a country in the global South, opportunities to defeat the global North are not that frequent,맥스카지노� Alles said. 맥스카지노�The World Cup is an opportunity to do that. The national pride is not something you can take away.맥스카지노�Alles noted that social media in Argentina has shown Japanese fans in Qatar imitating Argentina's style of cheering, copying the melodies, the pounding drums, and adding improvised lyrics in Japanese.맥스카지노�We are exporting our way of watching games to other places -- faraway places with entirely different cultures,맥스카지노� Alles said. "There is some pride there.맥스카지노�Alles acknowledged he cannot explain entirely why soccer 맥스카지노�holds a pervasive presence in social life," but it's omnipresent.맥스카지노�And it has been that way for at least a century,맥스카지노� Alles added. 맥스카지노�I saw a picture of a large crowd listening to the 1930 World Cup on the radio."Neighboring Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final, that one at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. In the DNAFrom sunrise to sunset, in office talk or chatting with friends, the first and last topic in Argentina is often soccer.맥스카지노�This is a culture where soccer is related with almost every activity in our life,맥스카지노� said Pablo Ava, who teaches sociology at the University of Buenos Aires. "It's not only passion, but identification. The passion you see in Qatar reflects the passion you see for clubs at a local level.맥스카지노�Buenos Aires is home to one of the greatest club rivalries: Boca Juniors versus River Plate. Racing Club, among the so-called 맥스카지노�Big Five맥스카지노� clubs in Argentina, was strongly supported by former President Juan Domingo Peron. And the stadium was named for him.맥스카지노�Soccer is important," Ava said. 맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s part of our conversation. It맥스카지노�s part of our life. Part of our family tradition. Part of our DNA. There is a very strong identification between soccer and your personal life.맥스카지노� The politicsMauricio Macri was the president of Boca Juniors, which helped propel him to the election as mayor of the capital Buenos Aires, and then the presidency of Argentina (2015-19).Other politicians are directly 맥스카지노� or indirectly 맥스카지노� connected to many clubs. Sergio Massa, the country맥스카지노�s economy minister, has been a leader at Tigre club and gets some credit for helping get it promoted to the first division.맥스카지노�Marci showed up in politics, not as an entrepreneur. He showed up as Boca Juniors president who won 17 cups (tournaments),맥스카지노� Ava said. "So many people start seeing soccer teams as a trampoline to a career in politics.맥스카지노�Soccer and politics have started to have a strong marriage because you get good exposure on TV and if you are a success in soccer you can take that success to the public," Ava added.The opposite is also true. Macri attended Argentina's loss to Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago in the opening match of group play at the World Cup. At home, Macri was seen as bringing bad luck. Consequently, current President Alberto Fernandez has said he will not attend the final.맥스카지노�He is not going to risk his presidency and show up at the last game in Qatar,맥스카지노� Ava said. Unifying factorArgentines can disagree on everything, but the national soccer team is a unifying force like nothing else.맥스카지노�In a country that맥스카지노�s highly factious, it the factor that unites everyone,맥스카지노� Mark Jones, who studies Latin American politics at Rice University in Houston, told The Associated Press. 맥스카지노�The team usually does well and it맥스카지노�s something to be associated with."The only other unifier that맥스카지노�s as strong is Argentina맥스카지노�s claim over the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas in Spanish), located off the country's Atlantic coast but under British control. Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 and lost.맥스카지노�Argentines see the country has having gone downhill over the last 75 years, and they see their standard of living is significantly worse than it was three or four year ago,맥스카지노� Jones said. 맥스카지노�So they are looking for something to be optimistic about 맥스카지노� to be happy about 맥스카지노� something to hold on to. The national team, the World Cup, provides that.맥스카지노�Ava, the sociologist, said Argentines are not "caring now to talk about the inflation, the unemployment, because we are going through something that looks more important 맥스카지노� and least for a few more days. Politics has to take a little break to let soccer carry on.맥스카지노�