Jonny Evans said Northern Ireland’s 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat to Denmark was “hard to take” after he was adjudged to be offside when setting up Callum Marshall for what had appeared to be a stoppage-time equaliser. The 1,700 travelling fans inside the Parken Stadium erupted when teenage debutant Marshall neatly directed Evans’ header inside the post following Jordan Thompson’s free-kick. But when referee Daniel Stefanski signalled there would be a VAR check, a seemingly interminable five-minute wait followed as Tomasz Kwiatkowski took an age to review the footage before eventually ruling that Evans had been offside by the tightest of margins when Thompson struck the free-kick. “I kind of felt I was coming back from an offside position but it wasn’t until we were back in our own half that I even considered it might be a thing,” Evans said. “When they were checking for that long I thought they were going to something to try and disallow it. Those were the emotions going through my mind. “I’ve been involved before where decisions take a long time but that’s definitely the longest. The longer it was going on I kind of felt it was like a dream really. It was strange. The referee tried to explain afterwards that they checked every single possible scenario. “I don’t get many assists and I was gutted and I was obviously gutted for Callum. For him to be able to experience that feeling of scoring was great and I hope that stays with him and he can take motivation from it.” The trip to Copenhagen represented the toughest fixture on paper for Northern Ireland in Group H, and they acquitted themselves well, defending doggedly for long periods and soaking up pressure from the hosts. But a mistake from Ciaron Brown – about the only foot the Oxford defender put wrong – was punished by Jonas Wind at the start of the second half and that proved the difference in the match. “It is hard to take,” Evans said. “Denmark are obviously buzzing. Had it gone our way we would have been the same. You can run all that through. “In the last five or 10 minutes we tired but I thought we did well. We were brought on fresh legs to try and get something out of the game and we nearly did. When we got the free-kick I thought this is our chance… “I thought we did what we had to do. We came in at half-time pretty pleased. We knew the first 10 minutes of the second half would be important and it was disappointing to concede a goal. “I looked up at the clock and saw 47 minutes. We really needed to ride that out but they came out strong and quick and once they got their goal it wasn’t really until they changed their shape that we had a chance to get back in it.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Connor Roberts eager to ‘create more memories’ as Wales aim to bounce back Kenny McLean savours special moment after scoring late Scotland winner in Norway Justin Thomas predicts shortest hole in modern US Open history could be ‘spicy’

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has switched allegiance from England to the United States, FIFA has confirmed. The New York-born 21-year-old, who is currently on loan at French club Reims, has represented England at Under-21s level but has opted to play his senior international football for the country of his birth. A FIFA spokesperson told the PA news agency said: “The change of association of the player Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun from England to the USA has been approved.” The news comes just weeks before England are due to launch their European Under-21 Championship finals campaign in Georgia and Romania. Balogun has made 13 appearances for Lee Carsley’s side, but withdrew from the squad in March due to injury. Having been born in America, Balogun moved to England when he was two years old and also qualifies for Nigeria through his parents. Qualifying players are allowed to switch associations before they have played a competitive match for a nation’s senior team. Balogun has made 10 first-team appearances and scored two goals for the Gunners, and spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Sky Bet Championship Middlesbrough. However, he has made a name for himself in Ligue 1 this season with 19 goals in 34 appearances to date. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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The Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has raised his bid for Manchester United by making a fourth and last-ditch offer for the club, which is understood to be closer to £5 billion. The businessman has made a late intervention after the lifelong United fan, and petrochemicals billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted his third bid which valued United at a higher figure. As with all of Sheikh Jassim’s previous proposals, he is trying to buy 100 percent of the club, where the Glazer family are current majority shareholders. The Qatari has also pledged to clear United’s debt of £536 million and has promised a separate fund directed at the club and the community. Ratcliffe’s most recent bid allowed Joel and Avram Glazer, two of the six siblings whose father, Malcolm, bought the club in 2005, to retain a stake while aiming to complete a takeover in the next few years. The American merchant bank the Raine Group are overseeing the process for the Glazers. There have been three previous rounds of bids, without seeming to meet the Glazers’ valuation, though Ratcliffe had emerged as the favourite to complete a deal. Read More Eddie Howe: Football must learn from my confrontation with fan Dimitar Berbatov warns Harry Kane not to ‘tarnish’ Tottenham legacy by leaving You’re asking the wrong person – Emma Hayes not interested in title permutations

Former Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness was unhapp his nation failed to show the level of determination and effort the magnitude of the encounter against England demanded. Speaking on Channel 4 after the Three Lions triumphed 3-1, Souness noted that while the Scots have undoubtedly improved under Steve Clarke, they’ve been shown just how great the distance between themselves and the top nations remains by the ease in which England won. Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored for the visitors, with the hosts unable to create much in the way of attacking chances, with Harry Maguire’s own goal their only consolation. And Clarke’s players needed to produce more to make the atmosphere a hostile one, Souness said, which might have tipped the balance somewhat. “It was a friendly. If nothing else go and empty someone, get the crowd involved. This is a passionate football crowd, and we gave them nothing to shout about tonight,” he said. “I accept that England were fabulous and are a fabulous team but from Scotland’s point of view, they couldn’t get the crowd involved because they didn’t show the required aggression for me. I know it’s a friendly but it’s an England-Scotland game. “They dominated, there was always another gear for them, and I think it was a sobering night for Scotland. They’ve been on a magnificent run but when push comes to shove there’s an enormous gap between where England are and where Scotland are.” Alongside fellow pundits Joe Cole and Jill Scot, both former England internationals, Souness stated his opinion that this squad of players under Gareth Southgate must make good on their potential to win an international tournament. Having made the Euro 2020 final, they’ll hope to go one step further next summer - and all three believe the team has the ability to do so. “England look like a real proper team. I think they can improve on that. They’ve got more attacking options to come on, but England have to be looking to win a trophy now. This is a special group that Gareth Southgate’s got,” Souness added. “This is the golden generation. Forget Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes. England have strength in depth, Jude Bellingham was outstanding tonight. I can remember England winning the World Cup, this is the strongest group I’ve ever seen, and they can only get better. England are destined to get [...] a trophy with this group of players.” Scott agreed they “should have their hands on the trophy”, while Cole pointed to the core group having “40 or 50 caps” by the time they play at the Euros. “In the past there was always something missing, this team ticks every box,” he said. “I think it’s the best England team I’ve seen or played in in my lifetime.” Read More Player ratings as Bellingham stars in England win over Scotland Terrible football or bad luck? Social media debates Harry Maguire’s ongoing struggles Maguire’s humiliation is complete — Southgate must save him from himself Player ratings as Bellingham stars in England win over Scotland Terrible football or bad luck? Social media debates Harry Maguire’s ongoing struggles Maguire’s humiliation is complete — Southgate must save him from himself