The song Argentina have adopted with such zest as their soundtrack to this World Cup adventure is "Bad Moon Rising," a track released in the late 1960s, which coincided with the time a rascal of a boy with footballing genius to burn, Diego Maradona, was first spotted by a talent scout at his local club.
A song, with its portentous words -- that is as old as the myth of Maradona -- rings loud today not only in Argentinian ears, but Brazilians ears too.
The lyrics are reworked to mock their neighbors without mercy, a task that has become starkly easy on the back of semifinals that leave Latin America's biggest hitters in massively contrasting moods.
Argentina's players exploded with an outpouring of elation as they overcame the Netherlands on penalties at the end of a heavy occasion. It must have been almost too much to bear for the Brazilian witnesses inside Sao Paulo's rain-drenched stadium.
Germany's epic 7-1 win over Brazil has been worked into Argentina's theme tune, with an added pun to reference the number of goals that are symbolic with Brazil's horrific failings. There were a few tense moments in the stadium at Sao Paulo as groups of Argentina supporters joyously hoisted seven fingers at the Brazilians in the crowd.
Argentina reaching the Maracana final as they are dealing with a national trauma is Brazil's worst nightmare.
On the pitch, there was not quite so much bravado as Alejandro Sabella's team slugged it out in a game short on chances and verve. Lionel Messi, Maradona's heir, carries so much hope in his boots, but a tactical semifinal, in which both teams prioritized containing the other, didn't give Messi much room for self-expression.
It was a game when other players shouldered the responsibility to see Argentina through. Javier Mascherano was immense controlling from deep. He led wonderfully, too. The moment he went to goalkeeper Sergio Romero before the penalties with inspiring words - "you can make yourself a hero" - will go down in Argentine footballing folklore. "Los Manos de Dios," the hands of God, was an obvious catchphrase, which summoned the spirit of Maradona.
It was all about the means to the end, however. Reaching the final, being able to stomp all over Brazil's party, is a moment to cherish. Recovery is paramount for Argentina. Sabella noted that his players, as well as being elated, were sore and tired after all their efforts. "Germany are always a very difficult hurdle to overcome," he said.
"It'll be difficult playing them, and it's an additional hurdle that they've had the extra day and, indeed, could rein themselves in for the second half last night. We've had to expend every drop of energy just to play in the World Cup final. So that is an advantage for them. But we have a final to play. We'll do everything possible to win this title."
Once Maxi Rodriguez's decisive penalty confirmed a World Cup final appearance for the first time since 1990, Sabella's instant reaction was to merely sweep his soaking hair back. The performance was of no consequence compared to the outcome, and he appreciates the hurdle that’s ahead looms large.
Germany set a stunningly high bar as they dismantled Brazil 24 hours earlier. What's more, while Argentina had to play for two hours (plus the nerve-shredding penalties), Germany had done enough with half an hour of excellence. There is no question which team will be in smoother shape for Sunday's final at the Maracana.
Sabella talked up his opponents, perhaps already setting the seeds for the narrative to push his team as underdogs. He praised a nation more used to competing for finals. "The Germans have always shown physical might, tactical powers, mental force and have always had the players with a certain South American touch," he explained.
"Magath, Matthaeus, Beckenbauer obviously, Netzer, Breitner... They know what teamwork is. They have been planning for a long time. They know about organization. The match is extremely difficult, and they haven't played extra-time when we've played two. In 1998 we beat England in extra-time and lost against Holland in the heat of Marseille, and it harmed us. We have to recover and work to make sure we are ready. I have an extraordinary group of players. We have made it into the final and crossed the Rubicon. It's a line of no return."
For the Netherlands, it was the end of the line, and Louis van Gaal's attitude to their exit was pretty brutal. "Losing 7-1 is the same as losing on penalties," he said. Maybe to him. Maybe not to Brazil. But to Argentina, both semifinals have brought them joy. They move on full of gladness to Sunday.
