Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella Monday said he was not angry with Ezequiel Lavezzi for splashing him with water, calling the apparent fit of pique a "positive gesture".

Sabella indicated there had been no comeback after Lavezzi, in what looked like an act of irritation, sloshed water from a drinks bottle on his suit during the 3-2 win over Nigeria.

Lavezzi looks likely to give the Paris Saint-Germain forward his first start in attack in Tuesday's last 16 game against Switzerland after Sergio Aguero was ruled out injured.

"We know he's a very special person and... a coach must know his individual players," Sabella told reporters in Sao Paulo.

"Of course we want to have a united team but they all are human beings, they all are individuals and we have to accept they are different people.

"I understood his gesture as a positive gesture."

Lavezzi spent most of Argentina's first two games against Bosnia and Iran on the bench before coming on for Aguero after 38 minutes against Nigeria.

While the 29-year-old was drinking water during a break in play, and taking instructions from Sabella, he splashed liquid over his shoulder and onto his coach's suit jacket.

But Sabella had nothing but praise for Lavezzi's attitude during the long World Cup campaign.

"Players like Lavezzi always say very positive things, they keep everybody happy and they keep a good atmosphere in the group," the coach said.

"He hasn't been in the starting line-up but he never made faces or comments. He's always supporting the team."

afp