The Socceroos have denied snubbing their hosts despite only one member of the team attending a civic reception held by the town which is being used as Australia's World Cup training base.

Coach Guus Hiddink and captain Mark Viduka were expected to attend the reception in the southern German town of Oehringen's city hall.

But while around 200 people turned up for the reception and hundreds more townspeople gathered outside, Hiddink and Viduka didn't show up, with midfielder Luke Wilkshire the only Socceroo allowed to attend.

Wilkshire is ineligible to play for the team against Liechtenstein in its pre-World Cup friendly after he was sent off in Australia's 1-1 draw with Holland on Sunday.

He was accompanied by the Socceroos' three training partners Kaz Patafta, Kristian Sarkies and Neil Kilkenny, who are not official squad members, as well as three team officials.

Football Federation Australia high performance manager John Boultbee defended the decision for the team to remain at its plush five-star converted palace in nearby Friedrichsruhe rather than attend the function, planned for months by its hosts.

Oehringen, where the Socceroos are training, has draped itself in Australian flags to welcome the team and put on a marching band and townspeople in fancy dress for its function.

But Boultbee said the decision had been made to let the team "settle in", rather than come to the hour-long reception.

"The coaching staff took the view that really we wanted to settle in first - you'll see them out and about in Oehringen during the World Cup," he said.

"It's their first day in camp - today the concentration is on training and getting the job done that they came here to do.

"I'd be disappointed if the coach didn't have training and playing on his mind.

"We're not snubbing Oehringen - we're absolutely thrilled we're here in Oehringen."

Any disappointment was eased later in the day, when the team trained in the town in front of a huge crowd of around 4,000.

The players trained for two hours, then got up close and personal with fans as they signed autographs before heading to the team bus.

Oehringen's mayor Jochen Kubler was diplomatic about the Socceroos not attending the civic reception, especially since the town of 23,000 appears to have put its heart and soul into becoming honorary Australians for the next month.

"We heard this morning they have no time to come, but that's okay. When you have a world championship, it can be a little bit draining and we understand," he said.

Meanwhile, the Socceroos look likely to start Harry Kewell in their match against Liechtenstein in Ulm - their final pre-World Cup hitout.

Kewell and midfielder Tim Cahill trained in position with the coveted yellow bibs - which usually signify spots in the selected side.

Both have been battling injury and are hoping to use the match to further their claims for selection in the World Cup opener against Japan on June 12 in Kaiserslautern.

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