RIO DE JANEIRO: Italy’s controversial final group match against Uruguay drew the biggest Italian television audience since 2012, with an average of 19.3m watching live coverage on RAI, Sky Mondiale and RAI Sport.

FIFA confirmed the figures from latest available data.

Italy’s 1-0 defeat, when they had needed only a draw, meant they were eliminated from the World Cup. The result prompted the resignation of national coach Cesare Prandelli and federation president Giancarlo Abete.

Elsewhere Greece’s showdown with the Ivory Coast set a Greek television viewing record for 2014 as 2.5m tuned in to NERIT,more than for any other World Cup match.

Univision, which broadcasts matches in Spanish in the United States, attracted 7.1m viewers for Croatia v Mexico, 40pc higher than the average for a Mexico group stage match in 2010.

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