PRAGUE (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) – You knew veteran legend Zuzana Zirkova had given absolutely everything in a truly special performance when she was left struggling to physically stand or even talk afterwards.

Zirkova sprinkled some unexpected magic dust on the tournament for Slovak Republic with her jaw-dropping 31-point display against Ukraine which booked her nation the most unlikely of Quarter-Final berths.

While not quite one of those wobbly and unsteady competitors you see crossing the line of a marathon, the legs of the 37-year-old were running on empty. Or, to continue the fuel analogy, she was down to only the last remaining fumes in the tank.

But, it was all worthwhile to not only drive the underdogs into the last phase in Prague, but to add more games to her extraordinary career.

"This is one of the greatest moments for me in a Slovak Republic vest – if not the best," she said, as she looked for somewhere to sit before her legs decided to give up on her.

"I was playing like it was my last-ever game because that was exactly what it would have been if we did not win.

"I am not sure I have ever felt this tired after any game and especially because of all the emotion as well."

Zirkova earned her rest and had every right to feel swamped by a wave of exhaustion after such an amazing display which surely now ranks as one of the very best individual efforts in recent memory at the Final Round.

The wider significance of her spellbinding play was that it only pushed her legacy even higher in Slovak basketball folklore.

It underlined her legendary status with a thick pen and now there is even a chance to surround it with glitter if her nation can do the unthinkable by reaching both the Semi-Finals and the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018.

"Playing without pressure is freedom on the court and that is what we have right now," smiled Zirkova.

"We gave everything to make it to the last eight and now we hope that after a day's rest we will be able to continue further. Especially because we have experienced many problems and setbacks in the build-up to the tournament."

With the loss of many key players and Maros Kovacik, who guided them back to the Final Round, Zirkova committed to work with newly installed Czech coach Marian Svoboda.

The play-caller summed up the current mood within the camp by enjoying a deserved beer during the post-game media conference. Toasting his team's progress against the odds, he was sat alongside the future star in the shape of Barbora Balintova.

She confessed that she can only aspire to carry the torch of Zirkova when this fairytale run comes to an end.

"You don't just learn from Zuzana during games, but you learn from her every single day," declared the guard.

"She is amazing and she sets the standards for anyone like myself who wants to be a leader on the court.

"Maybe we can't get to her level because she is incredible, but we can use all of the things that she has given us and this is something we are lucky to have."

Just one of the tournaments surprise packages and dark horses, Slovak Republic go up against the unbeaten France in the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA