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 against Holland which will see them head to the final was the most-watched television programme in nineteen months.
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 30 million 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.
And ITV has revealed 12.7million viewers watched the overall coverage between 6.30pm and 10.45pm – 64 per cent share of the viewing.
This also marked ITVX‘s largest livestream audience with 16.8 million streams of the semi-final.
Coverage of Euro 2024 in the UK has been split between ITV and its commercial rival 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.
England had plenty of concerns against the Dutch as they fell behind inside seven minutes.
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Xavi Simons scored a sublime goal after dispossessing Declan Rice in midfield.
However, the goal sparked the Three Lions into life, and they were level eleven minutes later.
Kane won a controversial penalty after being caught by Denzel Dumfries.
The captain took the responsibility and converted from the spot with a tidy finish into the bottom left corner.
Holland came out fighting in the second half to try and find a winner but it was not to be.
That was because super-sub Watkins fired home in the 90th minute with a brilliant finish past Bart Verbruggen.
As England will now take on Spain in the final on July 14th, fans will need to decide who to watch the game with as there will be live coverage from both ITV and the BBC.
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.
SUBS
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.
England have played Spain 27 times in total - here is a look at every result...
Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.
