England’s loss to Iceland and humiliating exit from Euro 2016 drew more than 15 million viewers, the biggest UK TV audience for two years.
The 2-1 loss, widely considered to be England’s most shocking defeat since losing to the USA in the 1950 World Cup, drew a match average of 15.2 million viewers on ITV.
Viewing peaked at 16.9 million in the closing minutes of the match as fans forlornly held onto the hope of an England equaliser to force extra time.
The game, easily the most-watched of the tournament to date, captured 60% of all TV viewing between 8pm and 9.50pm on Monday night.
ITV said it is the highest TV audience since England played Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup.
The previous largest audience for a Euro 2016 match was England’s goalless draw with Slovakia, which put the team into the knockout stages and attracted almost 14 million viewers.
Overall, ITV’s Monday night football coverage drew an average audience of 11 million viewers and a 48% share of all TV viewing between 7pm and 10.30pm.
