Australia's World Cup opener might have ended in tears, but it started with hugs and kisses.

The Socceroos appeared an hour and a half before kick-off against Germany to reward their huge band of travelling fans with a highly unusual trip to the front rows.

Some kissed their wives and children, others hugged supporters, some posed for photos and a few even snapped some of their own.

Harry Kewell was among the first to appear, getting a good luck kiss from his wife Sheree Murphy and hugging his children.

Sadly for him, that was his only sighting of the night, as coach Pim Verbeek kept him cemented to the bench.

Tim Cahill was also beaming as he greeted family and friends, but that was the emotional high point for him as he ended up in tears after being sent off.

Captain Lucas Neill shook hands and posed for photos.

Brett Emerton and Luke Wilkshire took their own snaps for their family albums.

The only place Australia won was in the stands and the streets of Durban.

The mighty band of Australian supporters known as the Fanatics walked to the World Cup opener en masse, all 2,000 of them, and helped make a big statement about their country.

They told the world not only that they are 100 per cent behind the Socceroos in 2010, but they are behind their nation's bid to host the World Cup in 2022.

The Fanatics, whose name says everything you need to know about them, cut an imposing sight as they strode two kilometres from their "tent city" at Durban's Kingsmead Oval to the magnificent Moses Mabhida World Cup stadium.

They are well aware there is something bigger afoot than Australia's presence in South Africa.

"We are helping to push for that World Cup in 2022," said Andrew Champion, 20, of Sydney.

Describing the walk as "epic", he said he had booked his trip a year ago and had been waiting "the whole time for this moment".

"We are going to make some noise and hope we are heard," he said.

The noise is directed at FIFA's executive committee, which will decide the 2018 and 2022 tournament venues in December.

Just as the Socceroos are doing their utmost to prove Australia's credentials on the pitch, and Football Federation Australian officials are lobbying hard behind the scenes, so the fans are doing their bit in the grandstands.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy, who visited the Fanatics camp before the opening match against Germany, said the fans were making a "huge" difference.

Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis said it was amazing that 43,000 tickets had been sold to Australians at the World Cup.

"Anyone who says this is not a game truly loved across Australia is plainly wrong," she said.

Though the Germans simply proved too powerful, the Aussie fans are trying to outdo the host nation's vociferous supporters, often described as a "12th man" for Bafana Bafana.

"Hopefully during the tournament we can be the equivalent of a 12th and 13th man for Australia because the Socceroos are going to need everything we can give them," said Joel Gibbs, 21, of Sydney.

"We are all really pumped. Just look at all the Australian flags and jerseys.

"The place is going off, it's out of control."

Josh Evans, 26, of Sydney, said: "There are so many of us here I hope the Socceroos can understand how important this is to us."

Dan Powell, 27, Albury. said: "With all of this support, at times you think you are still at home".

Scott Cremer, 28, of Sydney, said South Africans were getting behind the Australians, too, and lending their considerable support to the Socceroos.

This was partly because the teams wore similar colours but also because the green and gold army had been out in the streets making friends and "doing the right thing when it comes to showing respect in someone else's country".

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