THERESA May was the butt of the jokes at a Brussels summit today and forced to accept a Belgium football shirt ahead of their crunch World Cup game with England tonight.

The Belgian PM Charles Michel trolled her by placing it inside a book, as a host of EU leaders say they will be supporting the Three Lions’ opponents in the Group G.

9 The PM was handed a box by the Belgian PM at the Brussels meeting Credit: AP

9 Theresa May was tricked at a Brussels summit and forced to accept a Belgium football shirt Credit: Getty

9 The PM tried to laugh it off after she was handed the shirt Credit: Getty

He ganged up with French President Emmanuel Macron to ambush the unsuspecting Mrs May, who tried to laugh off the stunt.

She smiled and held up the red top, with Number 10 on the back - the number of star Belgium player Eden Hazard.

Number 10 officials immediately insisted they had brought an England shirt for Mr Michel, but it was nowhere to be seen this afternoon.

Earlier Ireland's premier says he will be cheering on the "Red Devils" in Kaliningrad this evening, joking that defeat for Gareth Southgate’s side could be better for them in the long run.

9 The red jersey was emblazoned with the number 10 worn by star player Eden Hazard Credit: Getty

Irish PM Leo Varadkar says he will be supporting Belgium in their game with England

As he arrived for the European Council meeting he told reporters: "I am here in Brussels in Belgium so of course I am going to be cheering for the home team.

"But of course if Belgium wins England will probably get an easier ride in the next round so perhaps it is one of those win-win scenarios."

Mr Varadkar also warned Mrs May that time is running out to reach an agreement on the UK's withdrawal from the EU and fixing the Irish border issue.

The PM is likely to find herself alone in cheering on Harry Kane as a number of her counterparts showed support for Belgium this afternoon.

9 The head of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker worse a Belgian scarf at the summit Credit: Getty

9 Mrs May hit back the EU leaders who want her to speed up the Brexit negotiations Credit: Reuters

We need to speed up Brexit talks admits May THERESA MAY has admitted Brexit talks have to speed up so we can get a deal in time. Speaking as she arrived at a crunch EU summit this afternoon, the PM said both sides were keen to "continue that work at a faster pace" than we have done up until now, writes Natasha Clark. She told reporters: "I'll be talking with fellow leaders about the very good progress we've made on the withdrawal agreement, and looking forward to securing our future partnership which I believe is in the interest of both the European Union and the United Kingdom. "I think both sides are keen to continue that work at a faster pace than we have done up to now and certainly we would welcome that." Mrs May will address EU leaders over Brexit tonight, where they will tell her not enough work has been achieved, and that time is really running out now to get it done. The main sticking point is the Northern Ireland border and what happens to it after we leave the EU, and what will happen with customs too. Mrs May will also tell the othe other 27 leader she will iron out Cabinet clashes over the issues at a sleepover summit at Chequers next week.

Mr Michel further trolled her by tweeting a picture of himself with the leaders from Holland and Luxembourg, Mark Rutte and Xavier Bettel, draped in his country’s scarf.

He captioned it: “The Netherlands and Luxembourg will soon be supporting our devils!”

And EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker was also seen with a Belgian scarf, putting his arms up in the air like a footballer before hooking it over Taioseach Mr Varadkar’s neck.

It wasn’t just on the footballing front where Mrs May was on the back foot as, she was told delays on Brexit risked an "apocalyptic" fallout as sneering EU leaders lined up to slam the UK.

9 It wasn't just on the footballing front Mrs May was on the back foot Credit: AFP

9 Mrs May will be having dinner with her fellow EU leaders during tonight's game Credit: AP

9 The rest of the EU wants the PM to get the Brexit talks moving quicker as time runs out before we leave the bloc Credit: EPA

Dutch leader Mr Rutte, asked about the prospect of “no deal”, said: “I don’t want to talk in apocalyptic terms, but I what I want to say is I believe the first, second and third priority now is to solve this issue of the Irish border.”

When asked if the EU was being too “rigid” in its approach, he said: “The problem is to whom should we listen because our contact of course is Theresa May.

“I know she is working day and night to solve this but the first issue on the table we have to solve now is the Irish border.”

He added: “Time is getting small now.”

And Mr Juncker told reporters: “I don't have to lecture Theresa May, but I would like our British friends to make clear their position.

“We cannot go on to live with a split cabinet. They have to say what they want and we will respond to that.

“We are preparing, in parallel, on a no deal. We have to do it.”

"I would like us to give the final definite response on the Irish problem...I wouldn’t like us to be in a situation where the last remaining problem would be the Irish problem. This has to be in the package.”