Call it a poor excuse if you will, but a new study out of the United Kingdom reveals that millions of men will be drinking their woes away this summer during the World Cup action in order to compensate for their poor athletic skills, or not being 'man enough to play'.

Psychologists at the University of Sussex reveal that men who are not confident with their athletic ability or lack in sporting skills, drink instead to prove their masculinity.

According to The Daily Mail, the researchers, sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council, say the findings could help develop policies for reducing social problems such as binge-drinking and violence.

Lead researcher Dr Richard de Visser says: "What is really interesting about the study, is the idea of using one type of typically masculine behavior to compensate for another.

"For example, men who are not confident in their sporting abilities may try and make up for this by drinking excessively."