This piece is an extract from yesterday's Rangers Insider newsletter, which is emailed out at 5pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from the Rangers Review team.

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It’s the weekend once again but not as we know it in football terms. Yes, the dreaded (for many) international window is upon us once more. No game for Rangers, well sort of, means a rare ‘free weekend’ for a large number of supporters whilst others will tune in to watch or attend international fixtures.

Importantly, the downtime for the domestic game provides some breathing space for Michael Beale, his coaching staff and the squad amid the relentless expectation at Ibrox and life in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.

The manager stated last week following the win over Motherwell: “We have got a few going away on internationals and then we've got three or four days we'll let the players have a bit of time with their families and then we're back in.

“We've been working on one or two new things you saw at the end of that game there. We're trying something slightly different at the back to try and get more players up the pitch so we will continue to work on that.”

Beale also mentioned being able to sit down and reflect and give feedback to some whilst the needs of the upcoming transfer window and squad plans for next season are certain to take up some of his time.

Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Fashion Sakala are currently involved with their respective national squads whilst social media tells us that Alfredo Morelos is back home in his native Colombia for a few days then there was Todd Cantwell living his best life at the Chris Brown gig at the Hydro last week, albeit prior to the break. We often forget but footballers are humans just like the rest of us and need time for family and themselves, too.

Once again, this free week in the fixture schedule has seen Rangers and the marketing department utilise the opportunity for another legends game. The ‘Match of Legends’ to be precise is seemingly now an annual event but will the appeal endure? That remains to be seen.

As much as former favourite sons such as Jorg Albertz, Lorenzo Amoruso and Ronald de Boer will stir fond memories of successes of the past, there won’t be the same connection for Bruno Alves to say the least. However, it is what it is and Sunday’s event provides a relaxed occasion to introduce the next generation of fans to Ibrox along with cheap family tickets which isn’t a readily available opportunity nowadays, even for run-of-the-mill home games and the requirements of MyGers. A healthy crowd will be in attendance at Ibrox on Sunday but for many, this weekend brings something different.

Rangers Review:

I would be quite confident that club over country would be the predominant feeling for most match-going Rangers supporters and almost a universal verdict amongst the hardened, loyal away support. Especially more so in the current socio-political environment in Scotland, when opinions for some become more entrenched.

Harsh feelings also linger toward the football authorities for deeds in the relatively recent past, as well as other matters down the years. That said, there will be Rangers fans at Hampden on Saturday as Steve Clarke’s team take on Cyprus just as some acquaintances of mine, season ticket holders at Ibrox, were in the microstate of San Marino on Thursday evening to cheer on Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland.

Then there is the chance for domestic duty of a different kind. Valuable time with partners, children and others will be a priority for a lot this weekend, away from the usual intensity and mood-determining outcome of following Rangers. Weekend breaks abroad, even trivial things like weddings are a great filler for this particular time of the football season. I say that with my tongue firmly in cheek as the September 2021 window coincided with my own nuptials then just over 12 months on, my first child was born, a wee bit later than expected as the Nations League matches were happening. Great timing all the same.

International weekend is football, but rarely if ever stirs the emotion and feeling of every other weekend.

Yes, it’s all about the Rangers.