Milan (AFP)

The Blues are counting on them, more than ever: Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé woke up a France team for a long time very pale offensively, Sunday in Milan in the Nations League final against Spain (2-1), confirming the birth of a stunning duo 13 months before the World Cup.

Coach Didier Deschamps regularly repeats that he would prefer the Blues to be "in action" and not "in reaction", but he will probably not be choosy after this title won by his offensive doublet, never as hungry as when it is back to the wall and led to the score.

Thursday evening in the semi-final in Turin, Belgium dominated for a long time, then the duo struck, with one goal each in the last half hour (3-2).

Three days later, in San Siro, the two attackers hardly touched the ball in the first period, but they woke up when the Blues were at their worst, adding, again, a goal to their respective counter.

Just after the first goal signed Mikel Oyarzabal, on a recovery from Paul Pogba relayed by Mbappé, Benzema first lit the fuse.

Eccentric on the left of the surface, he unleashed a coiled shot millimeter in the window of Unai Simon, waking up French supporters still stunned by the opening of the Spanish score (66th).

Mbappé followed him 14 minutes later, concluding, passing his legs in support, a dazzling counter-attack initiated by Theo Hernandez.

At the limit of the offside, the 22-year-old Parisian waited a few moments but the video assistance did not flinch ...

If they are still looking for automatisms within the famous "golden triangle" that they formed with Antoine Griezmann for the 9th time on Sunday, "KB" and "KM" respond with flashes of genius failing to be dominant during 90 minutes.

"We showed a strength of character, because this team is very, very strong, it never gives up. It is the sign of great teams, do not panic, wait and wait for the right moment", savored Benzema at the microphone from M6.

Mission accomplished for striker Karim Benzema, great architect of France's victory in the League of Nations in Milan, October 10, 2021 MIGUEL MEDINA POOL / AFP

The current top scorer in Spain and the top scorer of the last three seasons in Ligue 1 no longer hesitate to show their complicity off the pitch, on social networks or in training.

- Emerging complicity -

Symbol of a promising friendship, Benzema thus let Mbappé shoot a penalty full of stake, Thursday, to erase the missed shot on goal of the native of Bondy at the Euro, against Switzerland in the 8th.

"On the pitch I try to make my teammates better every time. I wanted him to score anyway; I got the ball back and gave it to him. What happened there. 'Euro, it is erased, it was only a match, "explained the Madrilenian on M6 on Friday.

What to put in confidence Mbappé, who thanked him on Sunday by offering him an assist for the 33rd goal in Bleu de Benzema, now one length behind David Trezeguet, 5th in the scorers classification of the France team.

The Madrilenian, who has 6 goals since his return, was elected man of the match.

"Humanly, he's a really good guy, I didn't know him. I learned to discover him, he's a good guy, he's quiet, he's + a good delirium", said Mbappé of Benzema during the 'Euro.

Three months later, the two partners got to know each other, and lift a trophy together.

Before ending up at Real Madrid?

"Come to Real Madrid. That would be ideal. All the great players want to come to Real Madrid one day so I wish him," "KB" replied to AFP before the Euro.

The transfer was attempted during the summer, without success.

But Mbappé is at the end of his contract in June and the court of Real seems assiduous.

Kylian Mbappé author of the decisive goal in the victory of the Blues over Spain in the final of the League of Nations in Milan, October 10, 2021 MIGUEL MEDINA POOL / AFP

In any case, it is not Benzema who will refuse to welcome such reinforcement.

"For his young age, Kylian can do everything. These are the players I love, who know how to play in one touch, take depth. Agile, fast, efficient," he greeted him in recent months.

Before adding that with him, "it's easy".

The Blues do not ask for better.

© 2021 AFP