Seven million fewer fans were cheering England on from home during Sunday's Euros final against Spain than in 2021 - but it was still the most watched game of the tournament
Seven million fewer fans watched England lose against Spain in the Euros final on Sunday than they did in 2021 when the Three Lions were beaten by Italy.
The European Championship final in Berlin was aired on BBC and ITV with a peak audience of 24.2 million tuning in across both channels to see Gareth Southgate's men's bid to end 58 years of hurt end in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
An average of 22.3 million watched the match from start to finish with 26 percent of Three Lions fans choosing ITV to watch the match.
It was the broadcaster's highest viewing share for a major men's football tournament final since records began and was a seven percentage point increase on the number of viewers who tuned in to ITV to watch the Euro 2020 final in the summer of 2021.
ITV also had two of the three highest rating matches and the biggest audience for a single channel with a peak of 21.6 million watching England beat the Netherlands in the semi-final.
A peak audience of 24.2 million tuned in across BBC and ITV to watch England's defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday
The figure is seven million down on the 31 million who watched England lose to Italy in penalties in the Euro 2020 final in the summer of 2021
A heartbroken Harry Kane was seen walking past the trophy having almost bringing his side to clinching their first major tournament since the World Cup in 1966
Gareth Southgate and assistant manager Steve Holland were the first to walk off the plane
Some 19.3 million fans watched the final on the BBC, which equates to an audience share of 63 percent.
But the total figure was significantly down from the 31 million who watched England lose on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, with the tournament being delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
England's deflated squad jetted back to the country yesterday on a private jet and landed in the rain at Stansted just before 2pm.
Southgate, 53, cut a dejected figure as he led the team off the plane and into the airport's private terminal building.
The crestfallen squad shortly followed wearing their England training kit and rucksacks over their shoulders as they walked into the terminal's private building having been greeted by a lone member of airport staff.
The players quickly exited the building where they were met by their personal chauffeur and driven away.
Southgate is still mulling over his decision whether to resign as boss of the national side after eight years at the helm.
