Wayne Rooney scored two goals for England

ITV1 said the game, which kicked-off at 1700 BST, attracted a 68.5% audience share - almost five times the average.

Two goals from teenager Wayne Rooney and a Steven Gerrard strike ensured the audience peaked at 17 million - or a 71.1% share - for the final 10 minutes.

The figures do not include those people who watched the football game in pubs or clubs.

An ITV spokesman said: "The figures are astonishing for a match that kicked off at 5pm.

"It shows the massive interest in England and Euro 2004."

On Sunday, almost 20 million viewers tuned in as England fell 1-2 to France in the dying minutes of the game.