Nathan Collins: Ireland U21s bringing winning mentality into crucial qualifier

Nathan Collins is part of a generation that has come to see major tournaments not as epochal events but as regular staging posts along the pathway to senior football

Nathan Collins, right, and Zack Elbouzedi of Republic of Ireland following the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifier against Italy.

Ireland's U21s will not lack for motivation when they face Iceland in a Euro 2022 qualifier in Tallaght this Sunday.

Win and Jim Crawford's side move on to Luxembourg next Wednesday knowing another victory in their last Group 1 encounter will earn this country a first ever appearance at a major finals at the grade.