Meet the former Miss Slovakia finalist working with the national team

As Slovakia gear up for their crucial last-16 clash with England at Euro 2024, one former beauty queen is also preparing for the biggest game of her career.

Former Miss Slovakia finalist Simona Leskovska has been working with the national side throughout the tournament and will be doing the same for the match on Sunday.

The Slovakia players will conduct pitch-side interviews with Leskovska - a former model who boasts 200,000 followers on Instagram, ahead of the game in Gelsenkirchen.

Having initially worked with the national team's Under-21 side, Leskovska recently revealed she's been through 'a lot of hard times' in order to reach this point.

Speaking to Extra, she said: 'I have been working for the Slovak Football Federation for three years, and I started with the Under-21 team.

'They were a good side, I got used to them, and last September I moved on to working with the first team.

'Some people told me that a woman from a modelling background would not make it in football.

'But several years have since passed, and those people who laughed at me now want to take pictures with me.

'We post more on social networks now, and make videos on the pitch. This concept has become very popular.

She added: 'You may just see a pretty face, but I've been through a lot of hard times to get where I am now.

'There are still a lot of goals I want to achieve. I learned a lot about football, despite the fact that people thought I wasn't good enough'.

Since competing in Miss Slovakia back in 2015, Leskovska has pursued her career in media and it's seen her follower count on Instagram rise as high as 200,000.

She initially started out reporting hockey but moved over to football and now has the opportunity to work with the national side for their last-16 clash with England.

It's seen her garner thousands of new fans and, in the same interview, she perhaps offered some of them a glimpse of hope as she revealed her relationship status.

When asked whether she had a partner, she said: 'This is the most frequently asked question. Yes, I'm single.'

The influencer also offered her opinion on who might win the competition and, unfortunately for Slovakia fans, she didn't suggest her home nation.

'I think France or Portugal will win,' she said.