Krishnan Guru-Murthy, a seasoned broadcaster and Channel 4's second-longest-serving presenter, surprised viewers with an abrupt exit from the evening news broadcast earlier this week.
The 56-year-old host, known for his professional and composed demeanor, seemed eager to leave the studio as soon as possible, ripping off his microphone and tearing out his earpiece before quickly walking off-camera.
It wasn't until later that viewers discovered the reason behind Guru-Murthy's hasty departure: he was rushing to catch England's nail-biting semi-final World Cup game against Argentina.
England had an exciting 1-0 lead, but ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, bringing their dreams of tournament glory to an end.
Manager Thomas Tuchel cited a weakness in English football 'DNA' as the reason for the loss, suggesting that players struggle to keep possession of the ball under pressure.
The team's defeat marked a dramatic end to a thrilling month of football, which has provided plenty of memorable broadcasting and showbiz moments, from Victoria Beckham's seemingly bored facial expressions in the quarter-final to Emma Hayes hitting back at trolls who accused ITV of 'sexism' with her set.
A peak audience of 24million watched as Argentina knocked out England, making it the most-watched live television moment of the year across all broadcasters.
The numbers are likely to be high again on Sunday, as Argentina faces Spain in the big final at New York New Jersey Stadium, kicking off at 8pm BST after a closing ceremony at 6.30pm BST.
The World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style performance, with Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS co-headlining the historic set, which has been curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.
The halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100m to provide children with better access to education and football opportunities.
The outcome of the final match remains uncertain, with England still in contention for a place on the podium if they can triumph against France in Saturday's bronze medal match.
