‘We would have had a chance’ – Nikos Dabizas still haunted by ‘bitter taste’ of sliding doors Wembley miss for Newcastle

NEWCASTLE legend Nikos Dabizas still has a “bitter taste” over his sliding doors Wembley moment.

The former Greek defender, famed for scoring the winner at Sunderland in 2002, nearly achieved an even greater feat four years earlier.

PA:Press Association

Newcastle legend Nikolas Dabizas is still haunted by a Wembley moment[/caption]

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The former defender will be at Wembley today to watch his beloved old club[/caption]

He was part of Kenny Dalglish’s Toon side that lost 2-0 to double winners Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.

No Newcastle player has managed a goal in a Wembley showpiece since Alan Gowling’s strike in the 1976 League Cup Final defeat.

However, Dabizas almost ended that against the Gunners only to be denied an equaliser by the woodwork and has been left wondering what could have been ever since.

He told Sun Sport: “If we would have equalised at that stage we would have had a chance. But we didn’t and in these kind of games you need these type of details to come with you.

“It’s one of two moments in my career I think about. The other was with the national team and a header when we played Denmark, with Peter Schmeichel, in goal. That left a bitter taste and I have that same feeling with the Arsenal one.

“I had the privilege of scoring against Sunderland and that stays forever but to have scored at Wembley or win an FA cup with Newcastle would have been an absolute dream come true. 

“But football is like this. That’s why it makes it so special. It seems just centimetres between success and from defeat. 

“You need a little bit of luck and it can go with or against you. And history tells us that it wasn’t to be that day.

“The momentum was with us. When you score a goal and you’re on top, that can change easily. So of course it will be a completely different story if it would have gone in.”

Dabizas, who spent five years at St James’ Park before moving to Leicester in 2003, would suffer two more Wembley disappointments in black and white.

He lost in both the following season’s FA Cup Final to the treble-winning Manchester United side and then 2-1 to Chelsea in the semi-final of the same competition in 2000.

The 51-year-old is now one of the top commentators on Greek TV and will be at Wembley to watch Eddie Howe’s team try and conquer the trophy drought.

Although he feels his presence could be a bad omen having also watched Toon lose two years ago against Manchester United from the gantry.

He half-joked: “I was thinking about keeping away to be honest. I don’t have the best memories.”

If anyone is to end the alleged curse on the club and fire Newcastle back to glory then surely it is Alexander Isak.

Dabizas played with the greatest striker in Toon’s history in Alan Shearer, whose statue now stands outside their stadium.

Fan favourite Dabizas believes Isak still has work to do to be compared with Shearer – but admits the Swede could get a statue himself if he bags the Wembley winner.

He said: “I think Alan is a different story because we have to judge them equally over longevity.

“Alexander probably is one of the best strikers in the world and would fit in the first 11 of maybe Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich even if they already have top strikers.

“They are completely different types of players with different styles and Alan scored so many goals in his career.

“But at the end of the day, if Alexander scores on Sunday then everything goes out of the window. He will be a hero.

“Combine that with if he can lift the trophy or get the winning goal then yeah [statue].”