BRAZIL BEAT: Argentina's 'el Pocho' lightens mood

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — When the coach needs to lighten up, squirt some water on him.

That's what Ezequiel Lavezzi did during Argentina's 3-2 win over Nigeria, and his teammates seem to think it's a good idea.

Lavezzi, a known jokester, was receiving instructions from Alejandro Sabella during Wednesday's match when he sent a squirt from his water bottle right in the coach's face.

Sabella didn't flinch and just kept talking.

Midfielder Ricardo Alvarez said Thursday it's the kind of thing everyone on the team has come to expect from Lavezzi, also known as "el Pocho," or the chubby one.

"We know el Pocho and we know the personality he has," Alvarez said. "These things do good for the group, having a person like el Pocho who is always happy and in a good mood."

After the match, a smiling Lavezzi explained his move by saying he thought the coach needed to lighten up.

What Sabella thought of it remains unclear.