Sports writers Stuart Bathgate and Andrew Smith are on hand to try to unravel the complexities of the Rangers story on the day their liquidation is confirmed. Turning to matters in Poland and Ukraine, we look at the first half of the group stage of Euro 2012, picking out the successes and failures. And with Andy Murray falling at the first hurdle at the AEGON Championship, is it unfair to cast doubt on his form going into Wimbledon?
On Tuesday evening Celtic showed true character in their 3-2 victory against Spartak Moscow in the Luzhniki Stadium, a result that bolsters their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. Is this a sign of Neil Lennon and his young squad growing in stature, and how will they cope with the looming proposition of Barcelona? Not one but two Fletchers made their return to the Scotland squad this week, but it was the inclusion of Steven which took us all by surprise. Is this simply a case of common sense prevailing, or could it be a ploy by Craig Levein to shift mounting pressure on someone else ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Belgium?
There were no major upsets this week in the Scottish Communities League Cup, unless of course you consider Third Division Rangers beating table-topping Motherwell at Ibrox a turn-up for the books. Stuart Bathgate and Moira Gordon assess the midweek action which saw Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hearts, Inverness, St Mirren and St Johnstone also progress to the quarter-finals. Golf fans are in for a treat this weekend when all the talk ends and the elite golfers of Europe and America go head-to-head in the Ryder Cup at Medinah, Illinois. Martin Dempster joins us on the phone from Chicago with his insight on the pre-tournament mind games and how he sees Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III leading their teams.
eltic are in the group stage of the Champions League, and Hearts only lost out to Liverpool with two minutes to spare, so is Scottish football now back from the doldrums? Graham Bean and Graham Lindsay consider their chances, and look back on a determined performance from Hearts against Liverpool. The chaos of transfer deadline day is in full swing, but will more SPL players end up at Third Division Rangers? In rugby, the RaboDirect PRO12 makes its return this weekend with Edinburgh and Glasgow back in action. David Ferguson looks ahead to the new season and introduces the all-new Scotsman Rugby Show.
Scotland secure a much-needed friendly win over Australia but how optimistic can we be about the upcoming World Cup qualifiers? Has Craig Levein done enough to silence the doubters? Plus, David Ferguson offers a preview of the new rugby season, with Edinburgh and Glasgow looking like real contenders in the PRO12.
Team GB have exceeded expectations at the Olympics but how has the televsion coverage fared? And have the obscure sports we only see every four years caught the public imagination? Plus - With Rangers starting in the Third Division, we preview the Scottish football season and examine the European prospects of Celtic and Dundee United
