The England national football team's World Cup campaign has gotten off to a strong start, with their 4-2 win over Croatia attracting a massive audience on ITV. The match, which was played on Wednesday, drew a peak audience of 15.4 million viewers, making it the highest UK TV viewing figure of the year. ITV's coverage of the World Cup has been well-received, with the channel's stunning studio in Brooklyn providing a unique viewing experience. England's victory in Dallas was a major factor in ITV's success, with the channel having four of the five highest TV audiences in the first week of the tournament. The BBC, on the other hand, has been criticized for its decision to base its presentation from its studios in Salford, rather than a more exotic location. ITV's World Cup coverage has been fronted by a range of experienced presenters, including Mark Pougatch and Ian Wright. The channel's coverage of the tournament will continue to be a major factor in its success, with England's third group game against Panama and any potential quarter-final match against Brazil likely to draw large audiences. England's manager, Gareth Southgate, will be hoping that his team can continue to perform well and make a deep run in the tournament. The team's next match is against Ghana on Tuesday, which will be shown on the BBC. ITV's success in the first week of the tournament is a major boost for the channel, which has traditionally struggled to compete with the BBC for live sport audiences. The channel's decision to invest in its World Cup coverage has paid off, with its studio in Brooklyn providing a unique and exciting viewing experience for fans. England's World Cup journey is just getting started, and ITV will be hoping to continue to bring the action to a large and enthusiastic audience.