The correct answer is: E. No error
The sentence is grammatically correct. The word “wholehearted” is an adjective that means “with complete commitment or enthusiasm.” In this sentence, it is used to describe the way that the players played. The sentence means that the observers felt that the stronger team had to face defeat because the players did not play with complete commitment or enthusiasm.
The other options are incorrect because they contain grammatical errors. Option A is incorrect because it does not include a subject. Option B is incorrect because it does not
include a verb. Option C is incorrect because it does not include a direct object. Option D is incorrect because it is a fragment.