Hakan has struggled in the Far East (Allsport).

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Saitama

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Turkey captain Hakan Sukur has been warned by coach Senol Gunes he is not assured a place in his side's World Cup semi-final line-up to face Brazil in Saitama on Wednesday.

While Sukur has been an inspirational figure for Turkey for many years, the Parma striker has failed to make any kind of impact at this tournament.

Five matches and no goals is Sukur's miserable record in the Far East, while in the last two games - 1-0 second-round and quarter-final victories over Japan and Senegal respectively - he has suffered the ignominy of being substituted.

Against Senegal, after missing two gilt-edged chances in the first half, Sukur's replacement in Besiktas forward Ilhan Mansiz went on to gain hero status with the Turkish people by scoring the golden goal which has set up the clash with Brazil.

The pony-tailed Mansiz, joint-leading scorer last season in the Turkish League alongside Galatasaray's Arif Erdem with 21 goals, could now find himself in the starting line-up - and Sukur on the bench.

Gunes initially defended the 78-times capped Sukur, who has struggled throughout the tournament anyway with a thigh injury, as he said: "Hakan is our captain who has contributed a lot so far."

But he then added: "Ilhan Mansiz is also a very talented player for us and both can play together if I want them to.

"It could be that one of them starts, with the other on the bench, but I have not decided yet."

Gunes has also told Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Yildiray Basturk he has no divine right to be in the side, although any differences earlier in the tournament have now been patched up.

A fuming Basturk was outraged with Gunes after being substituted during the second half of the 2-1 defeat to Brazil, throwing his shirt into the dug-out.

Gunes, the 50-year-old former international goalkeeper, has since spoken to Basturk and made him aware of his role and responsibilities to the team.

"All my players are precious to me, and Yildiray is one of them. It is because he is a very good player that he is with us," said Gunes.

"During my time as a national coach he has performed well and we can see that with his contribution and his success, but he is liable to be substituted just like any other player.

"It does not necessarily mean he has played badly and I have told him this. I have also said even if he plays bad he should not worry because he is a player who will have a part to play in the future of Turkish football.

"But this does not guarantee him playing all the time."

Basturk, who conceded he was "frustrated and unhappy" with Gunes' decision at the time, insisted the incident was now firmly in the past.

"For the first 60 minutes I thought I had played well. The coach told me that and said the reason why I was brought off was for tactical reasons," explained Basturk.

"I talked to the coach afterwards and he told me I had to improve my defending. I understand him and his decision. We have no problems whatsoever with that incident."

Despite minor injuries to a number of players, Gunes will only be without Blackburn defender Hakan Unsal due to a knee problem which also ruled him out of the quarter-final.