The match, in which Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas scored the decisive penalty to end Spain's 88-year run of failing to beat Italy in a competitive football match, was watched by a 29.6% share of the audience between 7.30pm and 10pm.
Coverage ran beyond 10pm until around 10.30pm because the game went into extra time and penalties, though the unofficial figures were not adjusted to reflect this.
The overrun dented the performance of Channel 4's 'Big Brother'. The latest instalment of the reality series had a lowly 2.4m viewers and a 9.5% share between 9pm and 10pm. Including ratings on Channel 4+1, 'Big Brother' drew 2.7m viewers and a 10.7% share.
The first episode of a new series of hospital drama 'The Royal' brought ITV1 2.7m viewers and a 10.7% share between 8pm and 9pm.
It was followed by crime drama 'Taggart', which pulled in 3.7m viewers and a 15.2% share in the 9pm-10.30pm slot.
Earlier in the day, ITV1's live coverage of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, in which British driver Lewis Hamilton finished a disappointing 10th in the race, attracted 3.2m viewers and a 31.7% share between 12pm and 3pm.
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