The broadcaster's coverage, which garnered a 43% share of audience with an average 9.3m, peaked just when the game looked liked it was destined for penalties, before stunning goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero two minutes from the end of extra time put Italy into the final.
'Big Brother,' which had to contend with the over-running football, managed an average 4.3m 19% share of the audience, making it the second-most popular programme of the evening.
Elsewhere, BBC One's 'Judge John Deed' repeat pooled a 3.3m 16% share, marginally ahead of Channel 4's 'Location, Location, Location', which was down slightly on the previous week to 2.7m and pulled a 16% audience share.
ITV's World Cup coverage has failed to match the ratings pull of its rivals the BBC, and both channels now have to contend with the absence of England from the tournament's latter stages.
The BBC's coverage of England's exit to Portugal on Saturday garnered a peak audience of 19.3m, after the team lost 3-1 in the penalty shoot out.
The two broadcasters' coverage will go head to head when the final in Berlin is shown on Sunday evening at 7pm.
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