Most-watched games of all time

ENGLAND’S Euro 2020 quarter-final match with Ukraine this evening is likely to be seen on TV by millions of people – but what are the numbers it needs to beat to become one of the most-watched games of all time?

Here are the biggest UK TV audiences for England’s World Cup and Euro matches since comparable records began.

The figures have been compiled from archive data published by the audience research organisation Barb. ■ 1. West Germany v England, 1990: 25.2 million

Not only is this the biggest-ever TV audience for an England football match, it’s also one of the mostwatched live events in UK history.

England’s semi-final with West Germany was shown by both the BBC and ITV, the BBC beating its rival by two to one (16.7 million watched BBC One, 8.5 million ITV).

Among those unable to watch the game were prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs, who were allowed to listen on radios in their cells, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were hostthis ing a concert at Buckingham Palace. Diana reportedly announced the result to guests, concluding: “I’m reliably informed that Pearce and Waddle missed.”

■ 2. Argentina v England, 1998: 23.8 million

This was another crucial match settled by penalty kicks.

England’s Round of 16 clash with Argentina gave ITV its largest-ever audience for live sport, as once again millions watched England go out of another World Cup after losing a shoot-out 4-3.

■ 3. Germany v England, 1996: 23.8 million

“I’d be surprised if you didn’t watch it on the BBC,” Des Lynam told viewers. “Frankly, I’d be disappointed.”

Some 17.5 million people heeded his words and tuned to BBC One to see England’s Euro ’96 semi-final against Germany, which ended in yet another penalty shoot-out and a 6-5 defeat for the Three Lions.

A further 6.3 million people ignored Lynam and watched the spectacle on ITV.

Albert Cooper > Paul Gascoigne cries and salutes the crowd during the dramatic World Cup semi-final between England and Germany which ended in a penalty shoot-out in Rome in 1990