ANKARA, June 11: Under-fire Turkish striker Hakan Sukur has blamed his team-mates for his poor performance in harsh remarks reflecting tension within the team, a Turkish newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“I am mercilessly criticized... I cannot stand it anymore. I am fed up,” the mass-circulation Hurriyet quoted the veteran Parma striker as telling reporters in Ulsan, South Korea.

“It is true I was not able to create any goal opportunities. But look at that team. All players in the midfield think only about themselves. They play to show up and draw attention on themselves.

“How am I supposed to receive passes under such conditions?” Sukur asked.

He said he had decided to play with the Turkish team in the qualifiers for the forthcoming European championship, but to snub the finals if the team were to qualify, according to Hurriyet.

Along with coach Senol Gunes, Sukur has been the primary target of critics and fans in football-mad Turkey.—AFP