Behind Sizzling Spain, Vicente del Bosque Proving He's Not so Stubborn After All

Nolito to Alvaro Morata: goal. Nolito on his own: goal.

The second of those had just gone in at the Stade de Nice, and its scorer was headed straight for the bench, where an embrace was waiting. As he set off, he was mobbed by jubilant team-mates who, one by one, then peeled off back to their positions.

But as he approached the sideline, one was still with him and another waited ahead, the symbolism slapping you in the face.

There was Nolito. On his back was Morata. Coming the other way from the bench toward them was Iker Casillas.

It was the protagonists and the observer; 22 combined international caps and 167 on his own; new Spain and old Spain.

Behind them: Vicente del Bosque.

Who said he couldn't change?

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This was an evening in Nice on the French Riviera that witnessed something vintage from Spain. But it wasn't just that—it was a new vintage.

In a 3-0 win over Turkey in their second outing at Euro 2016, La Roja showcased artistry and grace like only they can but also displayed some emerging new dimensions: The pace and freshness of the youthful Morata; the direct, street-footballing qualities of the late-blooming Nolito; the genius of Andres Iniesta deployed a little deeper; David De Gea in goal; systematic versatility; and above all, a sense of evolution.

The man behind all of it is the supposedly set-in-his-ways Del Bosque.

Perhaps he's not so stubborn after all.

For two years now, the veteran boss has been under intense scrutiny in his position at the helm of Spain. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a feeling of tiredness surrounded this historic national team, and by the end of that summer's painful disaster, there was a clamour for generational change.

Ever since, Del Bosque has copped it fiercely and regularly. His critics have banged their drums over his team's style, his struggles to integrate strikers and his perceived loyalties.

Some of it has been fair, but much of it has been exaggerated, and on almost every occasion he's unveiled a squad, the reaction has been along the lines of: "Del Bosque is stuck in the past."

Only he isn't.

Quietly, the 65-year-old is currently showing he's in the middle of reshaping La Roja. Their crushing of Turkey on June 17 was definitive evidence, but amid the sensations that followed, it almost went unnoticed that Del Bosque had orchestrated it.

Timing feels relevant here.

The Spain manager entered Euro 2016 surrounded by a familiar mood, and perhaps the pre-tournament suspicions that he'd revert to his old comfort blankets under pressure have blurred the picture.

As such, his subtle but crucial guidance of evolution is being glossed over. But it is happening.

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Consider Del Bosque's decisions for Euro 2016 thus far.

When picking his squad, he resisted the temptation to return to the idea of Fernando Torres despite the striker's late-season surge at Atletico Madrid. He also showed he was prepared to move away from the Diego Costa experiment, abandoning something he'd invested in heavily.

The options he went with instead were the precocious but still raw Morata and Aritz Aduriz, who'd gained widespread support after a magnificent season at Athletic Bilbao.

"We don't select the national team by popular vote, but when everyone says Aduriz, Aduriz, Aduriz, it's something we have to think about," Del Bosque told Marca (h/t Football Espana) earlier this year.

Stubbornness? Not at all.

He's open to change, and that willingness to oversee evolution has continued at the tournament.

After Morata's indifferent performance against the Czech Republic, Del Bosque showed his commitment to renewal by sticking with the Juventus striker against Turkey, and he was rewarded. He also maintained faith in the unique Nolito, who'd looked chaotic through nerves during his first game at a major tournament against the Czechs but responded magnificently against the Turks, weaving, shooting, driving and charging.

Part of Del Bosque might have wanted to go back to the comforting familiarity of Pedro. But he didn't. He pressed ahead—as he has elsewhere, too.

In goal, he's made the emotionally difficult decision to ease Casillas aside and promote De Gea. In midfield, he's repositioned Iniesta into a role more like that once held by the legendary Xavi, recognising the way Iniesta's game has shifted at Barcelona and incorporating that into his own team.

When turning to the bench, Del Bosque has also utilised the drive of Thiago Alcantara, the grunt of Koke and the calm of Bruno Soriano. Those faces are all relatively fresh in this setup, and the latter's introduction against Turkey brought about a change of shape and approach.

In Nice, we saw the results of all of this.

Suddenly, then, Spain look both familiar and a little different at the same time. The characteristic technical brilliance remains, but the dynamic has shifted just enough to be significant.

Iniesta is sparkling as the central conductor. Morata and Nolito as a partnership are resembling Torres and David Villa. The team's movement from back to front is a little swifter. Compared to two years ago in Brazil, their threat is now more varied.

In the background, it's Del Bosque who's steered them here.

"Del Bosque is key," Cesc Fabregas said during a press conference on Saturday. "The coach transmits security and calmness. You always go out on the pitch knowing what you have to do. He gives us that freedom on the field and you feel free to play your game."

What Fabregas alluded to were the well-established pillars of Del Bosque's management—pillars that will always be relevant. Throughout his career, the man from Salamanca has positioned poise, harmony and a soft touch at the heart of his method, winning him not only titles but admiration, too.

But more recently, those traits had been held against him as weaknesses: He was too loyal, they said. Too soft. Too stuck in his ways. Too stubborn.

Except maybe he's not.

Right now, a fresh-looking Spain are the hottest team at Euro 2016, and Del Bosque is behind it.

Follow @TimDCollins