I've noticed that Argentina always has pretty strong teams, especially when Messi is in the squad. The reason they already qualified for the World Cup with games still left is because they've just been crushing it in the South American group, getting ahead on points fast. They're leading with 34 points right now, which is tons compared to other teams. However, even though everyone talks about national pride, the actual government doesn't really do much to help the team directly. It's the Argentine Football Association and the club system that develop the players. Sure, politicians love to take credit when Argentina does well—I've seen so many photos of government people celebrating with the squad—but it's not like they're training the players or making all the decisions. When Argentina wins, it definitely makes the country happier and you might get a public holiday or a parade, but the success mainly comes from the players, coaches, and the fans who support them.