ITV viewing figures for England’s Euro 2024 win over Netherlands revealed with biggest audience in 19 months

5 months ago 57

ENGLAND’S Euro 2024 semi-final victory over the Netherlands was watched by a peak audience of 21.6 million on ITV.

Their 2-1 win, which will see them head to Sunday’s final against Spain, was the most-watched television programme in 19 months.

England’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory was watched by a peak audience of 21.6 million on ITV[/caption]

The Three Lions beat the Netherlands 2-1[/caption]

The Three Lions will now face Spain in the final on Sunday[/caption]

This is the highest peak audience on a single channel since December 2022, when the nation watched England’s quarter-final exit on ITV in the FIFA World Cup.

Broadcasters are hoping more than 30million viewers will tune into Sunday night’s final against Spain, based on the numbers that tuned in for England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final.

Across TV and streaming an average audience of 19.6million viewers watched the match between 8pm and 9.55pm.

This also marked ITVX‘s largest livestream audience with 16.8million streams of the semi-final.

Coverage of Euro 2024 in the UK has been split between ITV and the BBC, with the two channels swapping first choices for matches in each round.

The Euros is regarded as one of the UK’s “crown jewel” sporting events – alongside the World Cup, Wimbledon and the Olympics – which is required by law to be shown on free-to-air channels.

It had all started poorly for the Three Lions, though, as they fell behind when Xavi Simons sent a rasping strike into the top corner in the opening minutes.

But a much-improved England deservedly hit back soon after as Harry Kane dispatched a controversial penalty.

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But Neville slammed the referee over his controversial decision to award England a penalty and said his initial decision was the correct one.

It was then super-sub Watkins who fired home in the 90th minute with a brilliant finish past Bart Verbruggen.

Watkins’ well-taken winner was animatedly celebrated by ITV pundits Ian Wright and Gary Neville, who jumped for joy at the goal.

However, Irishman Roy Keane kept his arms crossed and casually walked away from the celebrations, with some fans joking that he had reacted in the same way Irish fans across the world had done.

England will now take on Spain on Sunday, and fans will need to decide who to watch the game with as there will be live coverage from both ITV and the BBC.

England ratings vs Holland

ENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins' last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.

It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?

SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.

Jordan Pickford: 7

Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.

Kyle Walker: 7

Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.

John Stones: 7

Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.

Marc Guehi: 6

Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.

Bukayo Saka: 7

Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.

Declan Rice: 6

Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.

Kobbie Mainoo: 8

Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.

Kieran Trippier: 6

We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.

Phil Foden: 7

The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.

Jude Bellingham: 5

Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.

Harry Kane: 6

Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.

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Luke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6

Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.

Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN

Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.

Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7

Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.

Gareth Southgate: 8

His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.